Editions
Los 40 USA
Scores
Follow us on
Hello

GOLF

PGA Tour social media manager gets knuckles rapped by McIlroy

Charlie Kane, the PGA Tour’s social media administrator, was in the wrong place at the wrong time and got hit on the hand by a stray ball.

ST ANDREWS, SCOTLAND - JULY 14: Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland tees off the 18th hole during Day One of The 150th Open at St Andrews Old Course on July 14, 2022 in St Andrews, Scotland. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Harry HowGetty

Charlie Kane has been the PGA Tour’s social media administrator for the past four years, keeping over 4 million followers up to date with regular posts on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. But he only discovered one of the dangers of the job today, on the first day of the 2022 Open Championship at St. Andrews.

Related news

Charlie was attending the opening day and found himself in the wrong place at the wrong time just as Rory McIlroy was teeing off. And he didn’t hear the Northern Ireland-born golfer shout, “Fore!” to warn him to get out of the way. The ball, travelling at over 300km/h, struck Charlie on his left hand, fracturing his knuckles and leaving his palm bruised and inflamed.

“He shouted fore. I did not heed the warning”, Charlie explained in a post on his own personal Twitter account with photos of his injured hand strapped up. It’ll be a few weeks until Charlie’s hand is back to normal and for the moment, he has to keep his hand raised by wearing a sling.

As for McIlroy, one of the favourites to win what would be his second Open title, he ended the opening day at 6 under par. He trails American Cameron Young who tops the leaderboard after finishing at 8 under.