The errant tee shot that hits a gallery member tends to follow a certain pattern on the PGA Tour. The golfer approaches to assess the damage, signs a glove for the poor soul, then moves on to check out his lie.
Credit then, to Tony Finau, already considered one of the nicest guys on the PGA Tour, but who is still not immune from potentially knocking someone out cold with a drive off line.
On Saturday at the Colonial, Finau was on his way to a three-over par 73 when he sprayed a tee shot on the par-5 11th hole into the gallery. The ball hit the head of a fan, Elisa Butler who, when Finau approached, was on the ground and bleeding profusely. The golfer was understandably rattled.
Butler went to the hospital, where she needed stitches, and Finau knew a glove wasn't sufficient. He found Butler's address and showed up at her house Sunday with flowers and chocolates and a get-well card.
“It was hard for me to regroup mentally,” Finau told PGATour.com. “I hope I didn’t kill somebody, you know? I just wanted to make sure she was OK for my own piece of mind.”
The best of Golf Digest delivered daily
Sign UpWill be used in accordance with our PRIVACY POLICY