I heard shout of fore and everyone ducked Open fan hit by ball left red-faced

Publish date: 2024-06-18

An unsuspecting spectator described his “real shock” after being left bloodied and floored by a wayward drive from Adam Scott at the 151st Open.

Christopher Ineson expressed mild embarrassment at being the only one in his group to fail to duck amid shouts of “fore” as the ball rocketed his way.

The Liverpool chef and brewery owner, 34, was sent sprawling and was left so dazed that he did not recognise Scott as he came over to apologise.

“It was a drive off the 18th, full toss, it didn’t bounce,” he told Telegraph Sport while nursing his sore head. “I heard the shout of fore and everyone ducked. I saw my mate duck and then it hit me right on the back of the head.”

His friend Rob Tuffnell, who was alongside him, added: “It sounded like a golf ball hitting mud or playdough.” Another colleague added: “It could only happen to Chris.”

Scott (in grey) looks on in concern after his wayward shot accidentally hit Ineson (seated) who is receiving makeshift treatment Credit: AP/Jon Super
Blood is splattered around Ineson after being hit by Scott's wayward drive Credit: Rob Tuffnell

Scott looked concerned and immediately walked over to establish whether the spectator was all right. He then handed him a signed glove, with the message “Sorry mate”. Ineson said he was planning to have his glove framed.

Ineson, who is hoping for a busy weekend of beer sales for his local Black Lodge Brewing business, had posted online: “This is what happens when you take a day off work!”

“It was a real shock,” he explained while pointing to a 3cm gash in the back of his head. “This was supposed to be our day. We both love the golf but my mate’s more of a golfer than I am, although I go to the range. 

“We had followed [Tommy] Fleetwood the whole way around. We’d been around 17 holes and then coming to the 18th, we were deciding who to follow next, maybe Rory, and the next thing I knew I was lying on the ground. 

“Obviously, the first thing you do is try to stand back up but I had about three hands on my head, saying ‘just stay there’.”

Ineson proudly shows off the signed glove he received from Scott Credit: Rob Tuffnell
Scott gestures on the 18th green, where his wayward shot hit Ineson in the head Credit: Getty Images/Warren Little

Ineson is understood to have been one of three spectators attended to by medics that afternoon alone. “I saw the medics and I had to lie down on a buggy and be driven across the course which is incredibly embarrassing,” he added. “There’s no concussion. It’s very sore, but you would have to be incredibly unlucky for it to be seriously injured.”

Of his meeting with Australian Scott, he added: “I didn’t know who he was – I just saw a tall man ask if I was OK and just hand me the glove. It was a nice touch.”

Scott had endured a tough two-drive sequence, with the first going out of bounds on the right and second soaring over a fence on the left.

Jordan Spieth’s first round also endured difficulties, with two bad holes as a career-first shank spooked the former champion before he recovered to post a two-under-par 69.

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