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ESPN anchor Sage Steele released from hospital and back home after a badly hit tee shot from Jon Rahm hit her in the face Thursday in the Championship opener PGA in Tulsa, Okla.
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The New York Post reported that Steele was in the gallery’s accredited media area when Rahm’s drive on the third hole went left and into the crowd. A golf writer at the scene reported that a witness said Steele was “on the ground holding his nose, mouth or chin” and blood covered his hands.
The Post said she left on her own but was hospitalized and has since returned home to Connecticut to continue her recovery.
After hitting the drive, Rahm yelled “front left”.
According to reports, Rahm and ESPN announcers were unaware at the time that the ball had hit anyone. He traveled 281 yards at a speed of 181 mph but bounced down the fairway, apparently after hitting Steele.
A representative for ESPN declined The Post’s request for comment and Steele, 49, did not discuss the incident on his social media.
She was at the Southern Hills Country Club in Tulsa to anchor “SportsCenter” there.
Steele, who has worked for ESPN since 2007, sued the network last month. She maintains that she was suspended after making comments about the company’s vaccination mandate on former NFL quarterback Jay Cutler’s podcast.