AVONDALE, La. – Masters champion Bubba Watson struck one of his fans in the head with a hooked drive during Friday's second round of the Zurich Classic.
Watson's tee shot on the second hole at the TPC Louisiana drew blood from the back of Radd Leonard's head.
Leonard, who was reached quickly by medics, said he was fine and found it incredible that he was hit in the head by the very player he came to see. The 52-year-old motorcycle shop owner from Baton Rouge also was glad he was able to help Watson back into the fairway, where the ball landed after striking him.
"I saw it coming and it looked like it was hooking right at me. I wanted to see that big hook, you know, and I got to see it. I turned and ducked and it still hit me," Leonard said. "It gave him a good bounce, anyway."
Watson walked over toward Leonard, put on a new golf glove, signed it, then took it off and gave it to Leonard and shook his hand. Watson's caddie, Ted Scott, drew laughter from the gallery when he instructively pointed further down the fairway and said, "We're glad you're all right, but if you could just angle your head a little differently ..."
Leonard laughed along, even as he held a towel with ice to his head and remained kneeling on the edge of the fairway, his gray shirt stained with splotches of blood. He declined to go to first aid and remained on the course after medics wrapped a bandage around his head. Officials gave him a new red Zurich Classic golf shirt and he kept a white towel over his head as he continued to follow Watson on the front nine.
"I'll be all right," Leonard said. "As long as I didn't black out, I figured everything was OK."
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