Koepka ‘heartbroken’ after fan blinded in one eye

Triple major winner Brooks Koepka said he was “heartbroken” that a Ryder Cup fan hit by his wayward tee shot had been blinded in one eye.

Koepka posted a statement on Twitter saying he had been in contact with Corine Remande and her family and offered his “heartfelt sympathy”.

Frenchwoman Remande, aged 49, said she was taking legal action against the event’s organizers after being hit on Friday’s opening day, when Koepka’s drive on the par-four sixth hole careered into the crowd at Le Golf National near Paris.

“I spoke to her at the time on the golf course and after now learning her condition is worse than first thought, I have made contact with her family to offer my sincere and heartfelt sympathy,” said Koepka.

“I am heartbroken by the incident. My thoughts remain with Ms. Remande and her family, and I have asked to be kept informed on her condition.”

Remande launched her legal action in the French city of Lyon on Tuesday. The complaint, seen by AFP, alleges organizers were responsible for “a lack of safety rules.”

“The player should have shouted ‘ball’, or ‘fore’ for English speakers. Given the distance, the stewards should have relayed this information to the green,” she adds in the complaint.

Remande told AFP after being examined at a Lyon hospital on Monday: “They told me I’d lost the sight in my right eye and this was confirmed to me today.”

She has a fractured eye socket and a damaged eyeball.

Remande said there was no warning from stewards at the course before the ball hurtled into the gallery.

“Quite clearly, there is responsibility on the part of the organizers,” she told AFP.

She and her husband Raphael had travelled to France from their home in Egypt to watch the biennial showdown between Europe and the United States.

Ryder Cup organizers said they would “continue to offer support” to Remande, but said a warning was shouted to spectators.