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A SPECTATOR STRUCK by a golf ball at last weekend’s Ryder Cup said she has lost the sight in her right eye and is planning to sue organisers.
Corine Remande, 49, had travelled to France from Egypt with her husband Raphael to watch the biennial showdown between Europe and the United States, held at Le Golf National club in Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines just outside Paris.
But the avid golf fan’s holiday ended abruptly when a tee shot from American Brooks Koepka veered left, landed among a crowd of spectators on the sixth hole and hit her in the right eye.
US Open champion Koepka swiftly apologised to Remande following the incident.
Remande however told AFP that she planned to seek legal action, claiming there was no warning from officials before the ball hurtled into the gallery.
“Quite clearly, there is responsibility on the part of the organisers,” Remande told AFP as she left the Croix-Rousse hospital in Lyon.
“Officials did not shout any warning as the player’s ball went into the crowd.”
Remande admitted she “appreciated the gesture from the golfer”.
“I tried to stay positive with him so that he didn’t lose his concentration,” she said. “But once I was taken away, I didn’t hear anything from the organisers.”
Remande is set to consult a lawyer with a view to seeking damages.
“More than anything I want them to take care of all the medical bills to make sure there is no risk of infection,” she said.
Remande received first aid on the spot before being transferred to a specialist eye hospital in Paris.
She was then driven to her parents’ home in Lyon after doctors advised her not to fly immediately back to Egypt.
Scans on her eye revealed a “fracture of the right socket and the explosion of the eyeball”, which, she said, surgeons managed to sew back together.
She explained:
However they told me I’d lost the sight in my right eye, and this was what was confirmed to me today (Monday).
Her husband said: “In the best case scenario, she may be able to see shapes after the bruising eases in a month or so.”
Contacted by AFP via email, the EPGA — the body which governs European golf — said it will “investigate” the incident, which could “take some time”.
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Honestly don’t think she should be allowed to sue anyone for her accident,,you have to be aware of the danger when entering a golf tournament that there is a chance,, even if it’s only a slight one,, that you could be hit,, purely accidental, but she both the ticket….
@Gordon Larney: They shouldn’t b left anywhere near the tee box, definitely not in front of the ball anyway. But if she has lost sight in her eye she should be well compensated. It’s the organizers job to control the health and safety aspects of the course not hers.
@Gordon Larney: I think its the fact no warning ( FOUR) was given. PGA players are known for not shouting four and use people as back stops so the ball won’t go further off line. There was a case in Ireland where a lady won her case for the same reason no warning given and she was hit.
@Gordon Larney: if the golfer shouted FORE, she is not entitled. If her didn’t, she is. Those are the rules.
@Brendan McDermott: while the player did not shout four, he did shout fore (which is the warning call). It was a 300 yard drive so it was not going to be heard. You obviously didn’t view it so stop trying to put blame on the player. If someone is standing on a golf course the should be watching for wayward balls, it’s an obvious risk
@Brendan McDermott: Just watched the video & they shouted fore straight away ..but in saying that,i reckon that she will be compensated for the loss of the sight to her right eye…
A woman in Ireland was awarded €275k a few years ago. She was on balcony in clubhouse though. Your man that hit her must have been brutal. Anyhoo, she would expect to be safe there. Beside fairway a different matter.
@Peter Cavey: the rules of what?
@Don Juan: assuming at the entry to the course or on the ticket there was a warning of the dangers, otherwise she might gave a case. I’m sure the organisers are insured
@Brendan McDermott: On listening to the Replay, Fore Left was roared, nevertheless an awful Accident!
@John Buckley: This is a big issue with the PGA Players not shouting FORE they are trying to resolve it by enforcing the rule. Yes it may be 300 yards down but by shouting there is a knock on effect down the line so people will take action or pay more attention. Players have a responsibility to shout fore pointing the direction does not count. If they did shout Fore then she may not have a case.
Regardless of nit-picking rules and ‘terms and conditions’ on tickets there is so much money floating around an event like this that if somebody loses an eye and doesn’t get looked after everyone involved in that decision should hang their heads in shame.
@Brendan McDermott: Totally agree
@Gordon Larney: she’s lost the sight in one eye as a result of being a spectator at a major event and it looks as though the organizers have reacted really poorly. This wasn’t base jumping or running with the bulls – your comment is both ignorant and stupid.
@Brendan McDermott: the issue here is you holding Koepka guilty by association with PGA players. Again, you obviously didn’t see it so stop trying to blame the player.
@MarkSul: Not sure where it said people were near the tee box, if she’s a golf fan she should be aware of how many spectators get hit by golf balls.
@Barra O Brien: not saying she was standing on the tee. But it was a short par 4 they were driving off. It’s not d players fault and not her fault. Saying she should know better is bull. Someone in front of her could of ducked for all we know. If you went to a soccer match and got a broken nose from a wild shout you’d b covered by public liability. I was responding to the fact someone said she shouldn’t be compensated. The organizers are aware of the possibility of these incidents and therefore are responsible if they do occur.
that’s awful. didn’t realise it was that bad when it happened. At the very least her medical bills should be sorted. hope she makes a full recovery.
@Ardmore02: how can she possibly make a full recovery, she has lost the sight in her right eye
@Loretta stiletto: When the eye grows back?
@Simon Casey: haha
@Ardmore02: “hope she makes a full recovery.”
You’re not good at reading are you, she lost her eye.
@Loretta stiletto: true, but the husband is quoted as saying she might be able to see shapes in future. That’s a contradiction.
@Mark McDermott: but found a golf ball
@Mark McDermott: You’re not very good at reading, are you. She lost the sight in her eye. Not the eye.
Sounds like it didn’t work initially anyway if she didn’t see the ball coming ….
@Dan Cahill: eye eye
@Dan Cahill: looks like she was watching it too closely.
This really pisses me off. You are physically standing on a golf course to watch men hit golf balls at 120 mph and then think it’s okay to sue. It’s the sense of entitlement that frustrates me. The sense that getting money will make everything better or somehow will make things better. And now, we will end up in a situation where people will need to take out golf insurance in order to watch golf.
@Mark McAuley: Snowflake disease. Imagine if every sporting event had to enclose the action away from supporters. Football, tennis, rugby etc..
Golf and fishing, statisically two of the most leathal sports.
@Leo Massey: saw a photo before of a fellow who stuck a sea beach fishing lead weight into his face when casting off the beach. He was doing a fancy pendulum cast and the line snapped. It wasn’t a pretty sight man.
Isn’t there something on the tickets to say you attend at your own risk?
She’s lucky she didn’t die like my mates wife and it was he who hit her in the head teeing off.She fell dead instantly.The doctor said that didn’t explain the Maxfli in her rectum.Ahh that was my provisional he replied.
@Aidan Butler: too soon?
@Aidan Butler: not soon enough
@Aidan Butler: a maxfli???? Not just a crap joke. An old crap joke!
@filthypete: Old as the hills I know.Yep pretty crap
@Aidan Butler:
Classic.
Big opportunity here for titleist sponsored hard hats and safety goggles and footjoy sponsored steel toecaps. A % for me please for the idea
I don’t think she has a case. There are occasions when a person accepts a risk when attending an event such as a golf tournament or cricket. Accidents may happen.
If you walk onto a golf course you must be aware of who is hitting around you. It is your responsibility.
Players who can’t hit it straight shouldn’t be allowed to play where there are spectators present.
A pre tournament test of some kind to establish skill level.
Judging by the result the Yanks would need to bring a provisional 20 or so players to try and get 12 to play.
That lady thought she was going to see the best players in the world but she alone will carry the disappointment for the rest of her life.
@Mick Barnier: so every professional in any sport should be flawless, never hit a wayward shot? I don’t think you’d have anyone playing in that case. I can’t think of one golfer in history that’s always hit shots where intended. It happens, spectators should be kept at safe distance and warned if ball heading their side.
@Mick Barnier: A pre tournament test to establish professional players skill level?
@Paul Howlin: I thought, mistakenly obviously, that I would be understood. Just having a dig at the wayward Yankee dream team who when taken to a proper golf course couldn’t play the game properly.
@Mick Barnier: I take you don’t play golf.. Or if you do, you don’t understand golf is not a game of perfect.
@Mick Barnier: how dumb are you…..
@Mick Barnier: “Players who can’t hit it straight shouldn’t be allowed to play where there are spectators present.”
So what about footballers who take a shot, it goes wide and hits a fan. Should those players be banned because of a shot that didn’t go where you wanted?
@Mick Barnier: i got it Mick.
Who said golf isn’t dangerous
@Dave Thomas: i don’t know.
Surely this couldnt happen
@Shaun Gallagher: it’s a wonder it doesn’t happen more often. You often see golf balls and cricket balls flying into a crowd and it’s a miracle when it misses everybody.
Ewwwwww
Interesting to see if Ice Hockey or Baseball fans get compensated should they hit a fan. Fairly certain hockey fans don’t as there is regular warnings on the ticket and on PA system. “If a puck comes your way your welcome to keep it” though
She should sue. Can’t stand sports, me. Golf has most fanatical fans on planet. Mandatory eye protection glasses for all golf spectators NOW !!!
In baseball you can’t sue if you are hit by a foul ball. People in the stands get hit all the time if they are not paying attention. I don’t think a court case in golf will succeed. Sad though
Even if fore was shouted and she heard it, how was she supposed to protect herself? The golf ball would be travelling like a bullet.
Too rubbish.
@dan cahill what a horrible piece of work you u must be, poor woman loses her eyesight through no fault of her own and all you can do is make fun of her, wtf is wrong with you.
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