DJ’S BALL STRIKE ON JOURNALIST

WHAT is it about pro golfers who don’t shout ‘Fore’ when they have clearly hit a shot that is flying off line?

Dustin Johnson did colleague Philip Reid no favours by his silence as he sliced an approach to the ninth green. The ball flew way right to a position where we were standing on a bank above the green, and struck Philip on the cheekbone.

An inch or two higher, and it could have been very serious.

As it was, the ‘Irish Times’ journalist suffered a cut to his cheek and needed to be checked out at the Medical Centre.

Happily, he suffered no serious damage. From DJ’s point of view, the impact saved his ball from landing in thick gorse.

As it rebounded off Philip, it bounced off my toe, so technically, does that mean I played a shot at The Open?

DJ’s mode of apology was a “sorry, man” and the gift of a golf ball.

To my mind, the customary glove or golf ball for a victim of a ball strike by a pro is a tad condescending and inadequate.

Tournament organisers could perhaps ensure that players pay their victims a standard rate, something around €300, for such an occurrence, without any liability.

That might concentrate their minds and get them to shout “Fore” if there’s any risk of a ball hitting a spectator.