Disaster nearly struck for Ian Poulter on the 12th hole during day one of LIV Golf UK.
As Poulter addressed his ball in the fairway, another ball whistled past his ear.
Bryson DeChambeau unleashed his tee shot off the 12th tee completely unaware that Poulter was still in the fairway.
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Ian Poulter posted an opening-round 68 on day one of LIV Golf UK, four shots higher than DeChambeau‘s exceptional 64.
Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images
However, the American is a further three shots adrift of the leader, Lucas Herbert.
Poulter would have loved the fact that he played such good golf in his homeland, but the biggest shot of adrenaline he had all day was on the 12th hole when DeChambeau launched a tee shot in his direction.
Ian Poulter reacts to nearly being hit with a ball by Bryson DeChambeau
Poulter spoke to LIV reporters after his opening round at the JCB Golf & Country Club on Thursday.
And he responded when asked about the incident on the 12th hole when he was nearly struck with a golf ball.
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“It wasn’t his fault at all, but, yeah, I mean, it just grazed my ear on the way past, I think. It was very close. It wouldn’t have been good. It would have, it would have hurt a lot,“ Poulter said.
Photo by Jason Butler/Getty Images
“That was uh, that was a shock to the system. The heart rate went up quite a bit.
“It was like, when you can hear that ball, like, cutting through the air as it passes your ears.
“Yeah, it wasn’t his fault at all.“
Ian Poulter explains why Bryson DeChambeau hit into his group
“You know, we were 40 yards further up, looking for Jon’s ball in the fescue, and it took probably three minutes to find his ball,“ the Englishman said.
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“We found it in time, then we walked all the way back to my ball. So, you know, those guys were probably on the tee for a long time.
“That new tee box that they’ve put in there has gone back a bit, and you can’t see that portion of the fairway where you’re going to hit.
“So, look, it’s not his fault. It’s one of those things.
“He probably thought he could see people moving further up once we found Jon’s ball and he sent one down there.“
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