Defending champion Justin Rose was genuinely concerned first in hitting a spectator but then seeing a 14- year old witness to the incident feint and also collapse on the second day of the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open at Gullane.
Rose hit a wayward drive down the left side of the 16 th fairway that hit an elderly man in the head and with the spectator first collapsing to the ground before the male teenager, who was unrelated to the spectator, feinted at the sight of the wound.
On-course medical staff rushed to the scene attending the elderly spectator and teenager, who had been revived by his own family members.
Fortunately, the older chap was okay,” said Rose.
The danger of golf. A spectator nurses a wound after being hit by a wild Tiger Woods drive in this year’s WGC – Cadillac Championship.
“I saw a bit of blood, and that’s never a good sight. He was an elderly gent, but he took it all incredibly well.
“He was lying on the grass, resting but then not getting up so he seemed fine. He and I were talking, so he looked okay but it’s still not a nice feeling.
“After I hit my drive I saw my ball suddenly pop up in the air and I knew then it wasn’t good.
“However when I got the spot he was already been looked at and mentioned to me he’d been coming to golf tournaments for years and years and had never been hit.
“And bless the young fellow. He got a bit weak at the knees but fortunately he came around quite quickly.
“When you experience something like that you first hope it’s not a young kid, then you hope it’s not a woman. Okay it was an elderly gentleman, but it’s not nice so to his credit he took it like a trooper.
“It was reassuring he was talking to me but he’s definitely going to have a mark.”
Rose was competing in the same group as 2013 Scottish Open winner Phil Mickelson who lightened up the occasion in walking over and saying to the crowd: “Sorry, it wasn’t me this time”.
Rose, also a former U.S. Open winner, obtained the name of the spectator and assured he would send off a few signed items as an apology over the incident.
The Bahamas-based Rose signed off for a second straight round of a four under par 66 to share the clubhouse lead on eight-under par with Ireland’s Shane Lowry who also carded similar rounds.
Also at eight under is Sweden’s Johan Carlsson and competing in only his second full season on the Tour.
The 28-year old Gothenburg-born efforts over the opening two rounds has him primed to secure one of three places into next week’s Open Championship should he eventually finish in the top-10 and those ahead of him already be exempt.
