Fan felled by ball (merged)

[mat562]

Another injury after no shout of 'Fore!'

I realise that this topic has been done before, but watching the golf before work, I've just seen yet another member of the gallery at a professional tournament felled by a tee shot. Despite the ball heading very clearly towards the left gallery line, no shout was forthcoming from the hitter (Garcia - one of the worst offenders when it comes to never shouting a warning), his playing partner, either of their caddies, or any of the marshalls around the tee. The spectator just copped for an ounce and a half of hard rubber, straight on the fly and, not surprisingly, given that they were unaware that a ball was heading their way, had no chance to take any sort of avoiding action or cover thus ramping up the severity of the damage that the ball caused.

Am I the only one that would think nothing of giving the player concerned a piece of my mind when they strode into view were the injured party to be me or one of my family or friends?

Idiocy.

And, before anyone says 'It's a blind driving hole', it's no mystery where the gallery line is and where the ball is heading - whether or not a rise in the ground obscures the direct view. The gallery have been there for hours, the rope line is well known, and it was obvious, even to me as a TV viewer, that the ball was headed that way. It's glaringly obvious to someone on or next to the tee that there's a real danger of the ball landing amongst the gallery. Players should shout, and the fact that not doing so is becoming the norm is something that I find ridiculous. Given the Tour's awareness of the danger caused by electrical storms, it's unbelievable to me that they are so diffident when it comes to such a dangerous situation and one that is happening on a regular and daily basis at their tournaments. Why players aren't fined and/or at least given strong advice that some sort of warning is reasonable and expected is beyond me. Marshalls should also be told, unequivocally, that it's obligatory to shout some kind of warning when there's a danger of someone being struck by a ball.

Rant over.

[TheDarkOne]

I don't know if any of you just saw it, but Sergio just nailed a fan in the head off the tee box in one of the nastiest gord shots I have ever seen.
Just reviewed again, in a surreal moment as they were taking the fan away on a stretcher, you can clearly hear him scream, "I would have expected this from him, not you" pointing at Tiger Woods. Comedy gold.

[larrybud]

While I agree that a warning should be given, I'm not so sure that anyone could ever hear a player when standing in a big crowd. It's noisier than you think when in a gallery of a bunch of people.

[TheDarkOne]

Mat you rock, always enjoy your posts brother.
Did you catch the footage where they were hauling him off after Sergio gave him the courtesy ball and you could clearly see him say "I would have expected this from him, but not you," pointing at Tiger Woods.

[mat562]

Larry, I take your point. But at every tournament I've been to - around seventy or eighty days' worth, including the Open Championship - it's never been too noisy to hear a shout of warning when a player has been hitting from a nearby tee or fairway. As well as the fact that spectators within hitting distance of a player taking a shot aren't usually raising merry hell, noise-wise, a shout has a way of travelling along the gallery line anyway by people mirroring the shout of warning once they hear it. Even if you don't know which side of the fairway they're shouting to, you can at least take some sort of cover.

In any case, the first thought of a player who's belted one towards a gallery shouldn't be to try gauge the ambient noise levels in a gallery two hundred and fifty yards away, nor to mull over what the likelihood of a shout being heard is. His obligation is to simply shout a warning and, if it isn't heard or recognised by the person whom the ball strikes because of circumstances beyond the player's control, then so be it. It doesn't change the fact that a shout is both sensible and to be encouraged. Not shouting is silly and, whether it's fuelled by a selfish desire to use an unaware gallery as a safety net for a wayward shot, because he doesn't want to potentially disturb another player with the noise - which is twaddle when you think of spontaneous spectator reactions to a shot - or because he simply wants to ponce about giving the club an obligatory thump and to have a pose, he's in the wrong and deserves to be told so.

As for the fan's off the cuff remark, mine would have been: 'why didn't you shout "Fore!" you young idiot?'

[jaskanski]

Two words - common courtesy. It's not too much to ask is it? At least give the fated target a sporting chance to evade the wayward shot by calling out. Even if it's down to one the offending players caddy to yell a warning, it should be done without question and treated with the same etiquette as you expect them to play. Unfortunately, a few players seem to think that they are above yelling like it's unfashionable or something. As for Garcia, what do you expect from someone who chooses to spit in the hole on TV. It ain't big and it ain't clever. Walking over and apologizing after the damage is done isn't really the way to do things either. However unintentional the wayward shot is, the act of hitting the ball is not an involuntary action. One of these days, a player is going to get sued.

[Boogs2]

It's just as annoying when you're on the tee box and you see a ball land within 5 feet of you and your group. I dont understand whats the big deal of yelling "Fore!". It seems like people are too good to yell it and they just watch their ball almost hit other players. Or if you dont yell, at least when you're nearby, wave and say "Sorry" or something. I do it all the time but there are *****s that think I'm in their way. Next time that happens..i might just hit it right back to them...lol. So sad, a gentlemans game, yet a lot of people dont give other people even the slightest amount of respect.

[scottthehibee]

The guy certainly took a dull yin, never understood how a pro can get away from what I think is a natural reaction to shout fore?

[Bomb and Gouge]

You gotta look alive out there, fans!!!

Keep an eye to the sky!!!

[TheDarkOne]

Mat I worship you dood. I know we have different opinions about somethings like cleaning old placenta off Ping putters, but some day I am going to make the trip over the pond so we can hang out, shot some golf, and smoke down. You are my hero.

[SteelPride]

If you are talking about the guy who got nailed by Sergio's ball at the Bridgestone, that was hilarious. If Sergio didnt yell fore, then he is in the wrong too, but the dude looked like he was twittering on his blackberry or something. Pay attention.

[matpatsheehy]

I think just as much blame should be put on the spectator as the person. I have too often seen spectators put themselves in stupid places and not realize what they are doing. It is like going to an MLB game and sitting down the 1st base line and not being prepared to see a foul ball.

I have been to tournaments and stood next to spectators who are not paying attention to the action on the tee and watch them get hit. I stood next to a guy and yelled at the moron that the ball was heading straight for him. Sir, you are going to get hit. Watch out. The dumb arse was too stupid to pay attention because he was busy drinking his beer and got hit straight on the knee cap. Not the players fault in my opinion.

If you are going to stand between 250 yards and 300 yards off the tee then you should watch players on the tee and the marshals signals for where the ball is heading. If you are walking along holes aimlessly then at least pay attention and be aware.

I put a little blame on the players but for godsakes there is only 15 people on the hole marshalling who should be paying attention as well. I think the blame is 5% player and 95% spectator. Be aware of your surroundings.

[David Hillman]

I completely agree with all the points about why there should be shouting... but at the same time, if you're along the fairway and Garcia or Woods, or worse, both of them, are hitting at you, PAY ATTENTION! These guys spray the ball all over hell at high velocities. If you aren't even going to watch them play, stay home or wear a helmet. ( I did read the riot act to a guy a couple weeks ago who flew a ~170 par 3 and bounced one off our cart's tire while we were in it... with nary a word. )

Is the guy okay?

[hammerheel]

Wow, they guy got absolutely nailed. I don't think anyone in the gallery saw the ball coming.

[mat562]

I'd agree that there's an onus on the spectator to pay attention, but let's be fair. There are many places on a golf course where a spectator doesn't have a view of the entire flight of the ball - even if they do realise that the players are hitting. It's also possible to lose track of a ball in-flight, especially in strong sunlight or drizzle. All the more reason to give them a heads up. Or, I suppose, a [i]heads down.[/i] Wearing a belt [i]and [/i]braces matters not as long as your trousers don't fall down.

If a ball's heading straight at a group of people, then whether or not they choose to pay attention or to take any action it's a mug's game not to shout something. I couldn't do it. Honestly. It would be like not shouting out to a child who was about to step out in front of a car. Whether it's the child's fault or not - and, conceivably, it could be 100% the fault of a child with no blame attached to the driver whatsoever - who would honestly say 'No. It's the kid's fault and I'd simply watch it happen with a 100% clear conscience if they were injured or killed.'?

DarkOne. You're welcome at our place and you'll undoubtedly hear me shout 'Fore!' at some point if you play with me. Probably on the putting green.

[gators78]

I was at a golf tournament a few years ago on the tee box of a par 5, and I'll leave the name out but a very well known PGA Tour player hits his tee shot, it starts to slice towards the trees and says "Ahhhhhhh hit someobdy and bounce into the fairway". He didn't say it too loudy but if you were around the tee box you could've heard it

I hate to say it but these guys utilize the crowds, thats a big reason bomb and gouge is so popular, if you hit it crooked enough you'll end up in the people with a decent lie. Now hopefully they'll yell fore...

[842ta]

I would have told Garcia to get me a ball signed by Tiger!

[Ty_Webb]

One thing I would say is if you shout fore when the ball is heading towards one or two people, you give them a good chance to get out of the way of it. If you shout fore when the ball is heading towards a crowd of people, there's not really much they can do. If someone ducks, it just means the person behind them catches it instead. You can't move quickly enough and ducking just presents different body parts to the flight of the ball. Your head still presents the same size target.

Supposing Garcia had shouted fore here, what difference would it have made?

All that said, i'm not defending him. He should definitely shout, just out of courtesy if nothing else. There's a chance someone sees it if they know it's heading for them and then they might be able to put something in the way of it (a bag or a hand or something like that).

[Tmiller72]

[quote name='SteelPride' post='1869062' date='Aug 6 2009, 03:39 PM']If you are talking about the guy who got nailed by Sergio's ball at the Bridgestone, that was hilarious.[/quote]


Yeah, too bad the guy wasn't killed. That would have been some real comedy there!

[CosmosMpower]

[quote name='Ty_Webb' post='1869135' date='Aug 6 2009, 03:03 PM']Supposing Garcia had shouted fore here, what difference would it have made?[/quote]

I would rather get hit in the arms covering my head than the back of my head if I knew it was coming.

[Tigersworld]

[quote name='TheDarkOne' post='1868978' date='Aug 6 2009, 12:06 PM']Just reviewed again, in a surreal moment as they were taking the fan away on a stretcher, you can clearly hear him scream, "[b]I would have expected this from him, not you" pointing at Tiger Woods. Comedy gold.[/b][/quote]

Get up early go to PGA event one ticket, Parking solivernier beer $50.00, Watching El Nino decapitate a fan then Tiger be the end of a punch line Priceless.

JuNiOR

[sosinsurr]

There is already a thread about this

[poppyhillsguy]

[quote name='sosinsurr' post='1869428' date='Aug 6 2009, 03:03 PM']There is already a thread about this [/quote]


There's a thread already about there being a thread already.

[David Hillman]

[quote name='Ty_Webb']One thing I would say is if you shout fore when the ball is heading
towards one or two people, you give them a good chance to get out of
the way of it. If you shout fore when the ball is heading towards a
crowd of people, there's not really much they can do.[/quote]

Agreed in general, but in this specific case the gallery was 1-deep at that point. The guy got hit and fell on open grass behind him. Had he looked up, or been warned, he could've easily avoided getting a really nasty bump on his head ( I hope that's all he winds up with ).

You don't know, though, so you yell just in case it might help.

Btw, this would be super-easy to fix on Tour. If you hit someone without yelling 'Fore', DQ. Problem solved.

[poppyhillsguy]

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yh4K8BIUXXo

Here it is...

[Serenity Now]

Sorry, this one is totally on the fan. I go to lots of MLB games & NHL games as well as numerous PGA events. We the fan are in their office and it is incumbent upon us to pay attention to our surroundings. Yes, they should yell fore but that is not enough and kind of acts a crutch as to why we do not pay more attention at PGA events. Once we enter the arena, we need to have our eyes on the ball or puck.

[SpartyOn1982]

I watched that live and it was something else!

I'm not trying to defend Garcia here (not a big fan myself) but from the angle we were shown on the Golf Channel, Garcia wouldn't be able to see if his shot was that wayward (I'm pretty sure that there is a hill there and he wasn't that far off line)
Also, the spectators take a chance when coming to these events. They make note of that on a lot of or all of the tickets for admission.


I will also add that common sense would be to say "Fore" even if you have a slight feeling it might hit someone

[Baxpin]

[quote name='poppyhillsguy' post='1869448' date='Aug 6 2009, 06:15 PM']www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yh4K8BIUXXo

Here it is...[/quote]

Ouch. I recently pegged a car on the fly, and it put a dent in it the size of my fist. Good to know he was ok enough to fire off a joke about the wayward shot.

Maybe it's time for Sergo to cut another few inches off the driver.

[stevestrike]

Is there anything more we can do other than complaining on an internet forum to get some action by the tour on this issue? (I'm being serious here) I would love to see a DQ or penalty strokes for this kind of thing.

Not yelling 'fore' for a wayward shot is one of my biggest pet peeves of all time.

[Rohlio]

This is why I only watch golf tournaments from behind the teebox, and behind the green. The only fairway shots I see if I am following a group and are walking with them. No real chance to get hit this way.

That having been said. Yell "Fore"! It isn't that hard. I have been hit twice with balls. The guy who yelled "fore" and came and said he was sorry, is still a friend of mine. The other guy, who after arriving at the ball with me on the ground holding my calf, said gee "I didn't think it would go this far". Got a verbal lashing from multiple people.