“I’m lucky to be alive!”
Declares Italian golfer Andrea Pavan, a two-time DP World Tour winner, was badly injured in a freak accident ahead of this week’s Investec South African Open in Stellenbosch.
Pavan, 36, was residing at private accommodation for this week’s co-sanctioned event when the elevator doors at either the second or third floor opened but with the current World No. 269th ranked player not realising quick enough there was no car present, and thus falling done the empty shaft leaving him with suspected back and shoulder injuries.
The Italian golfer was rushed to a nearby Stellenbosch hospital and with news he underwent a six-hour operation to reduce several vertebral fractures and implant a plate in his shouldder, and is in a serious but not life-threatening condition.
FURTHER UPDATE ….
“Lucky to be alive”, declares Andrea Pavan after falling down Stellenbosch liftwell. Underwant a 6-hour operation with a plate inserted in his shoulder
In good spirits FaceTiming with his wife & three children
Read: https://t.co/JTroAGBuzU
Getty
— Fatiha (@TOURMISS) February 26, 2026
“By all accounts, he’s in good spirit and thankful to be alive and FaceTiming with his kids”, sid Pavan’s former college coach JT Higgins speaking with the Golf Channel.
However, under Tour guidelines Pavan’s withdrawal is listed simply as due to ‘injury’ and also under confidentiality rules any such withdrawals cannot be commented on though given the seriousness of Pavan’s injury the Tour may issue a ‘get well’ statement.
The Rome-born Pavan has won eight times in his pro career including two victories on the European Tour, firstly capturing the D+D Real Czech Masters in 2018 before adding the BMW International Open in Munich the following year.
The father of three has had some form struggles in his career, losing his DP World Tour card at the end of the 2020 season and not getting it back until 2024.
His place in the Investec South African Open was taken by Scotland’s former 2009 South African Open winner Richie Ramsay.
Ramsay had arrived in South Africa as first reserve into the co-sanctioned Sunshine Tour and DP World Tour, and learned of Pavan’s mishap on the eve of the event,
Though Ramsay struggled on day one posting five bogeys in his opening 14 holes with his only joy a closing birdie in a round of a four-over 74 to be well outside the top-100.
Five players – South African Dean Burmester, Spain’s Alejandro, England’s Joe Dean and Finland’s Oliver Lindell. – share the lead at five-under.
Ewen Ferguson is the best of the six Scots posting a two-under 68.
