Posted On Saturday, July 21, 2012 at 08:30:34 AM
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| Rory McIlroy signs a glove for a spectator, Jason Blue who was struck on the head by a ball |
Rory McIlroy upgraded a young fan from a draughty tent to a swanky hotel after accidentally hitting him on the head with a wayward drive.
The Irishman's tee-shot at the par four 15th flew into the crowd and floored 16-year-old Jason Blue. The ball ricocheted off Blue's head and landed out of bounds next to a burger van, costing Macca two shots.
Had he missed the boy, the ball would have stayed in play and Rory would have been in contention to lead the 141st Open at Royal Lytham. But the kind hearted sportsman immediately offered the teenager a signed glove with 'Sorry!' written on it before salvaging his round to finish with 67, three shots off early leader Adam Scott.
And later that evening, after being put in touch with the lad, Rory's team returned to the local cricket club where the teenageer was camping with a friend, packed up his tent and set him up in a hotel for the rest of the tournament.
“After what happened, Rory didn't want him in a tent, he wanted him somewhere comfortable where someone could keep an eye on him,” the Sun quoted Mac's manager Conor Ridge as saying. “He's put him up in a hotel and given him a bit of pocket money for dinner with his pal,” he said.
The 23-year-old golfer admitted that he didn't realise it was out of bounds and said sorry to the boy. “I didn't realise it was out of bounds over there, it was only by a couple of inches. I just said to him, 'Sorry'.
There's not much else you can say. “The most important thing was he was OK. I'd have felt terrible if it had been worse than it was,” Mcllory said. Jason, from Bristol, escaped without stitches and revealed: “We couldn't see the tee because everyone down the side had umbrellas up, so we had no idea it was coming towards us.
“I closed my eyes with the shock of it as I tried to work out what had happened but I wasn't out cold and then there were people crowding around me. “Rory came over and said, 'Sorry, are you OK? Idon't think this will help much but here you are' and gave me a signed glove. He was quite apologetic,” he said.
Blue further said that he would apologise to Mcllory if he met him again. “I don't imagine he will be too happy with the fact I knocked it out of bounds - I'll apologise if I see him again,” he said. “I still want Rory to do well and I'll probably go out and watch him tomorrow,” he added.
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04:23:28 PM