Golf fan left bloodied after getting smacked in head by ball at The Open before receiving gift and note off star
AN UNSUSPECTING fan was left decked and bleeding after being hit by a wayward Adam Scott shot at the 151st Open.
Christopher Ineson, 34, has now revealed his embarrassment and “real shock” over the incident – although Scott did give him a gift and note to apologise.
The spectator, who is a chef and brewery owner, failed to duck amid the huge shouts of “fore” as the ball whizzed towards him and his group.
It smacked him head on, sending him flying to the ground and resulting in him being so dazed that he did not even recognise golfer Scott, 43, when he came to apologise and check on him.
Ineson told the Daily Telegraph about his unfortunate accident at The Open: “It was a drive off the 18th, full toss, it didn’t bounce.
“I heard the shout of ‘fore’ and everyone ducked. I saw my mate duck and then it hit me right on the back of the head.”
His friend, Rob Tufnell, added: “It sounded like a golf ball hitting mud or playdough.”
Aussie star Scott, who was branded good-looking recently by Paige Spiranac, went over to check on Ineson and then handed him a signed glove that read: “Sorry mate.”
Ineson was left with a 3cm gash in the back of his head.
He said: “It was a real shock. This was supposed to be our day. We both love the golf but my mate’s more of a golfer than I am, although I go to the range.
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“We had followed [Tommy] Fleetwood the whole way around. We’d been around 17 holes and then coming to the 18th, we were deciding who to follow next, maybe Rory, and the next thing I knew I was lying on the ground.
“Obviously, the first thing you do is try to stand back up but I had about three hands on my head, saying ‘just stay there’.”
He continued: “I saw the medics and I had to lie down on a buggy and be driven across the course which is incredibly embarrassing.
“There’s no concussion. It’s very sore, but you would have to be incredibly unlucky for it to be seriously injured.”
On his meeting with Scott, Ineson added: “I didn’t know who he was – I just saw a tall man ask if I was OK and just hand me the glove. It was a nice touch.”
Tommy Fleetwood finished joint top on -5 with Argentina’s Emiliano Grillo and South African amateur Christo Lamprecht on the first day of the 151st Open.
Scott finished the day tied for 48th on one over.