Australian golfer at risk of losing his sight after bizarre pro-am accident

After a bizarre accident during a pro-am, doctors are fighting to save a professional golfer's eyesight.

Jeffrey Guan, a 20-year-old Australian prospect, suffered a serious eye injury on Friday during a pro-am tournament at Club Catalina in Batemans Bay, New South Wales. Guan, who had just returned to Australia from making his PGA Tour debut at the Procore Championship in Napa, California, was struck in the eye by a golf ball and taken to a local hospital before later being flown by helicopter to an eye doctor in Cranberra, a statement from the PGA Tour of Australasia said.

“Just before 2pm we responded to reports that a man in his twenties had been struck in the head by a golf ball,” a NSW Ambulance spokesman told Sydney Morning Herald“We treated the man for a head injury and he was taken to Moruya District Hospital.”

Australian Golf Digestwho spoke to Guan's longtime coach Paul Davis reported that Guan suffered multiple orbital fractures after an amateur pro-am competitor made an errant tee shot.

“Of course there are concerns that he may lose some of his vision, but we won't know the exact extent until he goes to Sydney for further tests,” Davis said. Australian Golf Digest“It's really awful. This was actually the first pro-am tournament Jeff ever played in. After such a fantastic week in California, this is just the worst news.”

The reports did not specify which eye was injured.

Guan has been an excellent junior whose highlights include winning the 2022 AJGA Junior Players at TPC Sawgrass and representing Australia at the Junior Presidents Cup later that year. He turned professional last fall and already has seven top-25 finishes, including at the Australian PGA and Australian Open last year, competing primarily on the PGA Tour of Australasia. He is currently ranked 989 in the Official World Golf Rankings.

The Pro-Am was part of a NSW Open Golf Regional Qualifying Series event.