A Ryder Cup spectator who was struck in the face by an errant Brooks Koepka drive on Friday at Le Golf National has lost sight in her right eye and is planning to sue the event's organizers.
Multiple news outlets, including Agence France Presse (AFP) in France, reported on the fan's condition and her planned legal action.
Corine Remande, 49, was standing along the sixth hole on Friday when Koepka's attempt to drive the green sailed well off target and struck her in the face. She received immediate medical attention, and a distraught Koepka came over to spend time with the woman. Remande, who traveled with her husband from Egypt to watch the matches, claims no one forewarned her of the drive flying toward her.
"Quite clearly, there is responsibility on the part of the organizers," Remande said to AFP.
Remande said doctors told her she had a "fracture of the right socket and the explosion of the eyeball," which was sewn back together. Remande's husband, Raphael, said she may be able to see the outline of shapes when the bruising heals.
In a statement, Ryder Cup representatives dispute Remande's suggestion she was given no warning.
“It is distressing to hear that someone might suffer long term consequences from a ball strike.
“The spectator hit by a ball at the sixth hole during Friday’s play was treated by first responders immediately and taken to hospital. We have been in communication with the family involved, starting with the immediate on-course treatment and thereafter to provide support, helping with the logistics of repatriation, including providing a transfer for the family from Paris to Lyon. We will continue to offer support for as long as necessary.
“Ball strikes are an occasional hazard for spectators but this kind of incident is extremely rare. 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. We are hugely sympathetic and will do everything we can to support the spectator, insofar as that is possible under very difficult circumstances.”
Fans assume risk entering any golf tournament, and the language of such assumption is spelled out on the Ryder Cup ticket and in official ground regulations posted at the venue.
For their part, the European Tour, which owns 60 percent of the European half of the Ryder Cup proceeds, said they would help Remande.
"We have been in communication with the family involved, starting with the immediate on-course treatment and thereafter to provide support, helping with the logistics of repatriation, including providing a transfer for the family from Paris to Lyon. We will continue to offer support for as long as necessary," the Tour said in a statement to the Associated Press. "It is distressing to hear that someone might suffer long-term consequences from a ball strike."
Koepka took to Twitter on Tuesday to share his reaction to Remande's resulting vision problems.
— Brooks Koepka (@BKoepka) October 2, 2018
Kopeka wrote, "I was deeply hurt and saddened by the tragic accident that occurred when a shot I hit off the 6th tee struck Ms. Remande. I spoke to her at the time on the golf course and after no learning her condition is worse than first thought, I have made contact with her/family to offer my sincere and heartfelt sympathy. I am heartbroken by the incident. My thoughts remain with Ms. Remande and her family, and have asked to be kept informed on her condition."
