Rory McIlroy's wacky season (claiming the #1 ranking, but missing the U.S. Open cut) continued today at Royal Lytham and St. Annes as he crept his way onto the leaderboard only to find his drive at the par four 15th go far to the right, drilling a spectator in the skull. (Never a publication to engage in hyperbole, the Daily Mail stated the fan was "nearly decapitated.")


The lie was so bad McIlroy chose to return to the tee box and try again—though not before awarding the fellow struck by the drive an autographed glove. McIlroy would eventually turn in a double-bogey six on on the hole, dropping him to 18th on the first day of the Open Championship. The fan, we're told, is recovering. As yet unknown: whether McIlroy yelled "Fore!" [BBC]