SHATTERED OVER INCIDENT
Koepka ‘heartbroken’ after Ryder Cup fan blinded in one eye
TRIPLE major winner Brooks Koepka said Tuesday 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 Corine, aged 49, said she was taking legal action against the event’s organisers 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 was confirmed to me today.”
She has a fractured eye socket and a damaged eyeball.
Corine 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 organisers,” she said.
Ryder Cup organisers said they would “continue to offer support” to Corine, but said a warning was shouted to spectators.
“We can confirm that ‘fore’ was shouted several times but also appreciate how hard it can be to know when and where every ball is struck if you are in the crowd,” a statement said.
“It is distressing to hear that someone might suffer long term consequences from a ball strike,” the organisers said. “Ball strikes are an occasional hazard for spectators but this kind of incident is extremely rare.”
Organisers said they had been in contact with the family and had helped “with the logistics of repatriation, including providing a transfer for the family from Paris to Lyon.
Corine 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 her home in Egypt.
Corine said: “More than anything I want them to take care of all the medical bills to make sure there is no risk of infection.”