Rising Aussie golfer Jeff Guan airlifted to hospital after freak accident during Pro-Am

Rising Aussie golfer Jeff Guan has been airlifted to hospital after a freak accident on the course.

The recent PGA Tour debutant was hit in the eye by a golf ball, leaving him with severe injuries that threaten to end his career at just 20.

Guan was hit by a member of his group during the Pro-Am at Club Catalina in Batemans Bay on the NSW south coast last Friday.

Paramedics rushed out onto the course to treat the promising young player before he was taken to a local hospital for scans before going to a Canberra hospital in a helicopter.

Surgeons operated on his eye when he got there.

“Just before 2pm we responded to reports that a man in his 20s had been hit in the head with a golf ball,” NSW Ambulance said in a statement.

“We treated the man for a head injury and he was taken to Moruya District Hospital.”

Guan was at Club Catalina for a NSW Open regional qualifying tournament.

The injury comes just a week after the world No.989 got a start on the PGA Tour at the Procore Championship in California through a sponsor invite.

He just missed the cut, finishing even par.

PGA of Australia and Golf NSW released a joint statement on Saturday.

“Jeff was hit just below his eye, and received treatment on course, before being transferred to Moruya Hospital for scans,” the statement reads.

“He was then airlifted to Canberra to be assessed by an eye specialist.

“The PGA of Australia, Golf NSW and Golf Australia wish to thank everyone who assisted Jeff following the incident and wish him all the best with his recovery

“We would ask people to respect the family’s privacy at this time, and we will endeavour to provide updates on his condition in due course.”

Guan finished in the top 25 at the Australian PGA Championship and Australian Open as a teenager in 2023.