Ryder Cup: Spectator loses sight in one eye after being hit by Brooks Koepka’s tee shot

A female spectator has lost the sight in her right eye after being struck with a golf ball hit by Brooks Koepka at the Ryder Cup on Friday, AFP have reports.

49-year-old Corine Remande, who had travelled to the biannual event from Egypt, had been struck by Koepka’s golf ball on the par-four sixth hole on Friday and is now considering legal action after doctors told her she had lost the use of that eye. 

“Doctors told me I had lost the use of that eye,” the 49-year-old told Agence France-Presse.

“It happened so fast, I didn’t feel any pain when I was hit. I didn’t feel like the ball had struck my eye and then I felt the blood start to pour. The scan on Friday confirmed a fracture of the right eye-socket and an explosion of the eyeball.”

Mrs Remande also criticised tournament organisers at Le Golf National for “not making contact” with her after the incident to find out how she was. She also claims there was “no warning shout’ from officials when it was heading to the crowd. 

“Officials did not shout any warning as the player’s ball went into the crowd. More than anything I want them to take care of all the medical bills to make sure there is no risk of infection.”

However the video below shows there were multiple shouts after the shot, though Koepka was quick to concede crowds can’t always hear the shouts.

“You can yell ‘fore’ but it doesn’t matter from 300 yards, you can’t hear it,” he had said.

Mrs Remande plans to consult a lawyer on Tuesday with a view to seeking damages, according to the AFP. 

Watch the incident below

When it happened

The World No.3 had been visably shaken after the incident on the opening day of the Ryder Cup, speaking in his press conference afterwards. 

“I haven’t gotten an update,” he had said on Friday about Mrs Remande’s injuries. “I actually just asked in the locker room, and nobody knew. So I have no idea what’s going on.

“I obviously saw her. It looked like it hurt. She was bleeding pretty good. It looked like it hit her right in the eye, so hopefully there’s no, you know, loss of vision or anything like that.

“But it’s not a fun feeling. I probably do it way more than I should. It seems just about every week we’re hitting somebody, and you know, it’s unfortunate. You’re never trying to.

“It doesn’t feel good, it really doesn’t. You feel terrible for them. You know exactly how they are feeling, especially when you’ve got to go over there and apologise, because they are in pain, usually bleeding, and then to hit her in the face is not — you don’t want to hit anybody in the face, especially not a woman, and it’s not a good feeling. I mean, I had a terrible — I just wanted to get out of there, so I’m glad Tony was able to chip-in and leave.

“But I’m sure we’ll get an update on her in the next — whenever we leave here, but hopefully she’s doing good.”

Koepka says he is ‘heartbroken’ by news

Since being informed that her condition is worse than he had imagined, Koepka spoke in a press conference in St Andrews on Wednesday while he got prepared for the Alfred Dunhill Links this week. He called it one of the worst days of his life. 

“Yesterday was one of the worst days of my life,” Koepka said about Mrs Remande. “My heart sank when I heard.”

He also took to social media about the incident, explaining he was heartbroken and had reached out to her and her family. 

Ryder Cup statement

A Ryder Cup spokesperson has since responded on Tuesday, issueing the following statement: “It is distressing to hear that someone might suffer long term consequences from a ball strike. 

“The spectator hit by a ball at the 6th hole during Friday’s play was treated by first responders immediately and taken to hospital. We have been in communication with the family involved, starting with the immediate on-course treatment and thereafter to provide support, helping with the logistics of repatriation, including providing a transfer for the family from Paris to Lyon. We will continue to offer support for as long as necessary.

“Ball strikes are an occasional hazard for spectators but this kind of incident is extremely rare. We can confirm that ‘fore’ was shouted several times but also appreciate how hard it can be to know when and where every ball is struck if you are in the crowd. We are hugely sympathetic and will do everything we can to support the spectator, insofar as that is possible under very difficult circumstances.”