Unlucky fan felled by wild Jon Rahm tee shot at British Open

HOYLAKE, England – Spaniard Jon Rahm joked that golf balls can be dangerous projectiles when asked what he would do if protesters disrupted the British Open, and his words proved prophetic on Thursday.

While there were no protests, one unlucky fan was pole-axed by Rahm’s off-target tee shot at the 12th, the ball striking him on the head before rebounding into a bunker at the Royal Liverpool course.

The Masters champion was left with an impossible lie and had to play his ball backwards out of the trap, but not until he had gone to check on the stricken fan.

Rahm, who is accompanied by chants of Rambo during his rounds at Hoylake, England, spent several minutes talking to the dazed, but fully conscious, individual and offered him a signed glove before continuing his round.

Medics assisted the spectator, while Rahm went on to make a bogey as he struggled in his opening round.

Just Stop Oil protesters have threatened to target the tournament, as they have done at several other high-profile sporting events including Wimbledon, where they sprinkled jigsaw pieces and ticker-tape on a court.

Players have been advised not to take the law into their own hands if protesters run onto the course, although Rahm said before the tournament that he had not read the memo.

“I do have a reputation, so I hope they don’t catch me on a bad hole,” the 28-year-old joked this week.

“They might have more room to run around and do what they need to do, but what I can assure you is you don’t want to get hit by a golf ball.

“Whether it’s on purpose or even by accident, you don’t want to be caught in the middle of that.”

Off the course, former world No. 1 Ernie Els said the PGA Tour board should step down over the decision to merge their commercial operations with LIV Golf, and described the Saudi-backed breakaway circuit as “circus golf”.

Els said the way the PGA Tour went about the merger without player input was an “absolute shambles”, and that its commissioner Jay Monahan would not still be in the role if it was up to him.

“If this happened in my day, in my prime, there’s no way he is around. No way. And the board has to change,” the 53-year-old South African said, after firing a 75 in the first round of the British Open.

“I’m sorry, it’s not right. Talk to us, tell us what you’re going to do, plan on negotiating. Don’t just go rogue as a member of the board and come back with a deal and think we’re all going to say ‘yes’.

“You’re affecting people’s lives. You’re affecting the professional game. It’s just so bad.”

The four-time Major champion said he was no fan of LIV’s team aspect or its 54-hole, no-cut format.

“This is circus golf. Team golf doesn’t work. It works maybe in a two-month, three-month happy season,” added Els, who won the British Open in 2002 and 2012.

“Get these guys together, get teams together and play around the world. But then play real golf.

“That’s what this thing is all about. That’s what I prided myself on, like Tiger (Woods) and some of these guys, getting yourself into Majors and grinding.” REUTERS