Golf is a very dangerous sport. Mostly for spectators. Remember the CJ Cup Byron Nelson last year. One fan left the TPC Craig Ranch Golf Course with a $20 bill, a signed golf ball, and a massive welt. How so? He got struck by an errant shot from three-time major winner Jordan Spieth. The tee shot from Spieth went to the right side and was seemingly heading out of bounds, but struck the fan and bounced back in, onto the fairway. So, if you are a spectator at any big event, you’d better be on your toes. Especially if Jon Rahm is teeing up. Case in point, the 2025 PGA Championship.
Jon Rahm hits a fan at Quail Hollow
During the 11th hole, one of Jon Rahm’s strokes strayed out of the playing area and hit one of the spectators who was standing by the side on his head. The fan was crouched down to escape from the ball, but luck was not on his side. This kind of incident is not too uncommon in the world of golf and usually the fan leaves with some memorabilia from the golfer whose ball hit them, along with a wound from where the ball hit, and this is what happened here too.
“We were kind of sorting through things between golf clubs and golf balls. I don’t think a glove and a tee are going to cut it. He took it great. I told him, If he was European and grew up playing soccer and football, and he just aimed a little bit better, maybe just got it closer to the hole, but besides that, he definitely—it’s a weird moment,” Rahm explained the situation after the day’s action. The ball had hit the fan’s head and bounced back onto the green, but rolled to the far side after. Rahm still found a way to make the situation hilarious by suggesting that the fan could have aimed it closer to the hole to give him a better position.
“Sometimes when that happens and they’re not hurt, they are so excited because they know we are going to go there and just have a five-minute conversation, and yeah, he took it great, and he was a great sport about it.” Rahm further added. This kind of situation is not new for the Spaniard. Three years ago, an errant tee shot from Rahm hit ESPN reporter Sage Steele between her nose and mouth. Steele had to be taken to the hospital after her face was covered in blood. Thankfully, she recovered well.
An apology, hand shake, and a signed glove from Jon Rahm will make up for a good welt. pic.twitter.com/RVWtvYDBz1
— Red Harrington (@RedHarrington44) May 17, 2025
Even in 2018, the two-time Major winner’s first drive hit a spectator on the head and bounced back onto the rough, in a situation eerily similar to the 2025 incident. The ball had bounced back onto the rough after hitting the spectator, ending up with a more than favorable lie for Rahm. The fact that it has happened three times for Jon Rahm at the PGA Championship alone means that you better be careful when he is lining up his shot.
Nevertheless, after a great R3 nd finishing T5 after 54 holes at Quail Hollow, Rahm is resetting his focus on a specific target for day 4, with a major title hanging in the balance.
Jon Rahm eager for Round 4
“I mean, it’s hard to express how hungry I may be for a major, about as hungry as anybody can be in this situation. Very happy to be in position again. I don’t know where I’ll be. I’m assuming I’ll be at least one shot back starting tomorrow, but that’s a great position,” Rahm had expressed his thoughts before the end of day 2. However, there is an uphill battle left on the final day.
Scottie Scheffler is five strokes ahead of Rahm in the first position on the leaderboard. Scheffler managed to stun the field with 5 under par in the last five holes of day 3, putting clear daylight between him and second place (3 strokes).
“Me going to LIV and playing worse in majors had nothing to do with where I was playing golf. My swing was simply not at the level it had to be for me to compete. It’s easier to post a score on non-major championship courses and venues, and I think when you get to the biggest stages like this one and these courses, those flaws are going to get exposed, and they did,” the 2023 Masters Champion added.
Rahm is in his best-ever position at a major tournament since joining LIV Golf and is only one of two LIV golfers in the top 10, the other being Bryson DeChambeau. The Spaniard was adamant that joining LIV has not been the problem with his game, rather the lack of verve in his swing.
Do you think the Spaniard can make up the five strokes and catch up to a marauding Scottie Scheffler?
The post ‘Hungry’ for Major, Jon Rahm’s Fan Gets Blessed in Disguise After Life-Threatening Moment at Quail Hollow appeared first on EssentiallySports.