Ryder Cup Fan Who Lost Eyesight Says She Could Have Died

Corine Remande has spoken out in an interview with BBC Sport

Ryder Cup Fan Who Lost Eyesight Spectator Hit By Koepka Loses Sight In Right Eye

Corine Remande has spoken out in an interview with BBC Sport

Ryder Cup Fan Who Lost Eyesight Says She Could Have Died

Corine Remande, the lady who was struck by a wayward Brooks Koepka drive on day one at the Ryder Cup and lost sight in one eye, has spoken out after the incident in an interview with BBC Sport.

Remande, 49, says she could have died had the ball struck her in the side of the head rather than on the eye.

She is angry at officials and stewards who didn't give enough warning that the shot was coming her way.

However, as a golfer herself, she doesn't blame Brooks Koepka but is taking legal action against the tournament organisers.

"It's so nice to be on the golf course, to see the players. I hope that this terrible accident will improve safety for the public," she said.

"The doctor said immediately to my husband that it was a very big explosion in my eye and it was impossible for me now to see again with this eye.

"I don't know how to live with only one eye. I like walking, sport, going to the gym and playing golf."

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She was struck on the 6th at Le Golf National, a par-4 measuring 380 yards off the back tees that had been shortened to be driveable.

Remande is angry that stewards did not tell fans that players were attempting to drive the green as oppose to laying up.

She also believes spectators wouldn't have heard the shouts of fore and claims her ticket and sign posts around the course did not contain enough safety warnings.

Koepka said his "stomach sank" and that he was "heartbroken" after hearing Ms Remande had lost sight in her eye.

He also described Tuesday when he found out about her injuries as "one of the worst days of my life."

European Tour Chief Executive Keith Pelley told the BBC, "Millions of spectators attend and enjoy golf events each year. Incidents of this severity are extremely rare.

"The safety of our spectators is our paramount concern, and this will continue to be the case."

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Elliott Heath
News Editor

Elliott Heath is our News Editor and has been with Golf Monthly since early 2016 after graduating with a degree in Sports Journalism. He manages the Golf Monthly news team as well as our large Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages. He covered the 2022 Masters from Augusta National as well as five Open Championships on-site including the 150th at St Andrews. His first Open was in 2017 at Royal Birkdale, when he walked inside the ropes with Jordan Spieth during the Texan's memorable Claret Jug triumph. He has played 35 of our Top 100 golf courses, with his favourites being both Sunningdales, Woodhall Spa, Western Gailes, Old Head and Turnberry. He has been obsessed with the sport since the age of 8 and currently plays off of a six handicap. His golfing highlights are making albatross on the 9th hole on the Hotchkin Course at Woodhall Spa, shooting an under-par round, playing in the Aramco Team Series on the Ladies European Tour and making his one and only hole-in-one at the age of 15 - a long time ago now!

Elliott is currently playing:

Driver: Titleist TSR4

3 wood: Titleist TSi2

Hybrids: Titleist 816 H1

Irons: Mizuno MP5 5-PW

Wedges: Cleveland RTX ZipCore 50, 54, 58

Putter: Odyssey White Hot OG #5

Ball: Srixon Z Star XV