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WATCH: Henrik Stenson takes selfie with fan he hit with errant shot

By Rachel Bleier
June 16, 2019
Henrik Stenson takes a photo with a fan at Pebble Beach.
@EvinPriest

Henrik Stenson is known as a bit of a comedian on Tour, but he found himself in a pretty serious situation during the third round of the U.S. Open at Pebble Beach after hitting a fan with a wayward shot on the 16th hole.

Stenson’s tee shot missed the fairway, landing in the second cut. With the ball sitting up, Stenson pulled an 8-iron and attempted his approach shot. As soon as he hit it, the Swede knew it was heading straight for the fans standing behind the green.

“It was a semi-shank, it wasn’t a full one,” Stenson said. “But it was a nice flight out to the right, shot it forward, but they can’t see anything, I can’t see where it’s going either, and clipped the guy right in the forehead.”

That’s right. Stenson’s semi-shank struck a fan. As he approached the crowd, Stenson saw the young man (his victim?) lying on the ground with a knot on his head about the size of half a golf ball.

“I said ‘I’m sorry.’ What else can you say?” Stenson said afterward. But it wasn’t an apology the fan wanted — instead, the fan asked for a selfie.

“So, next thing, I’m down on the ground, as well, taking a picture, a selfie, laying down with him and his girlfriend,” Stenson said. You can watch Stenson taking a selfie with the fan and his girlfriend below.

Being the good guy that he is, Stenson checked with USGA officials to ensure the fan was okay.

“I asked for his details so I can contact him at a later date and check up on him,” he said. “I might send him more than just one golf ball next time. I might send him a couple dozen or something to try to make up for my poor shot.”

Stenson ended up bogeying 16 and finishing with a 1-under 70. He’s tied for 9th at four under, seven shots behind leader Gary Woodland heading into Sunday’s final round of the U.S. Open.