Brooks Koepka said he felt "terrible" Friday night as a woman spectator recovered in a hospital after suffering a horrifying head wound from his wayward tee shot.
The American profusely apologized and spoke of his anguish at flooring the spectator, who collapsed on the ground with blood gushing from her eye socket after being struck on the sixth hole of his Ryder Cup four-ball match.
Medical staff members strapped bandages over her face but later played down fears her eyesight may have been damaged. The woman was taken to a hospital as a precaution, officials said.
"It looked like it hurt," said Koepka, who stopped play briefly to check on the stricken fan. He later handed her a signed glove as an apology.
"She was bleeding pretty good," he added. "It looked like it hit her right in the eye, so hopefully there's no loss of vision or anything like that. It's not a fun feeling.
"It doesn't feel good, it really doesn't. You feel terrible for them. You know exactly how they are feeling, especially when you've got to go over there and apologize."
Koepka, 28, was described as "shaken" after the incident on the short par-4 hole after attempting to reach the green with his tee shot.
"You can yell fore, but it doesn't matter. If you're 150 yards, you're shouting fore, you can hear it. But from 300 yards, even if none of us said fore, she's going to get hit and that's the unfortunate thing," Koepka added.
She was immediately supported by marshals and assessed by the on-site medical team.
"She has been taken to the hospital as a precaution but doctors have confirmed the injury is not serious," said a Ryder Cup spokesman. "The spectator does not have a broken nose, contrary to what some media announced."
Koepka and Tony Finau beat Justin Rose and Jon Rahm on the final hole in the opening four-ball match at Le Golf National outside Paris, but the U.S. team trailed 5-3 going into today.
HEISMAN AVAILABLE
The Heisman Trophy is arguably the most prized individual award in all of collegiate sports, and now even a fan can own one for at least $400,000.
According to TMZ Sports, the 1937 Heisman, which was won by Clint Frank of Yale, is available for bidding at Heritage Auctions until Oct. 18.
"Experts tell us it's expected to go for over $400,000," TMZ wrote.
Frank's daughter Laurie Dorsey owns the Heisman along with her sister and two brothers after the Yale great died in 1992. She explained the rationale behind the decision to sell it.
"It's difficult to share because we all live in different cities and states," Dorsey said. "We became kind of the caretakers for it. We kept it safe in a bank vault. Now we would like to see it go to someone who really loves football and appreciates the Heisman and can enjoy it."
Frank won the Heisman after he rushed for 667 yards and 11 touchdowns on 157 carries for a Yale team that went 6-1-1, with the only loss coming against archrival Harvard.
QUIZ
Who finished second in the 1937 Heisman Trophy voting behind Clint Frank?
ANSWER
Former Supreme Court justice and University of Colorado three-sport standout Byron "Whizzer" White finished runner-up to Frank for the 1937 Heisman.
Sports on 09/29/2018