By Rob McLaren

AN IRISH spectator got too close to Tiger Woods for comfort after she was struck by a ball on the 6th hole during his third round on Saturday.

Tiger hit his second shot of the par five into the crowd, hitting Jennifer Wilson, who required two stitches as a result of the blow.

Jennifer’s husband Cecil said, “Tiger came over and apologised. He said, ‘I’m very sorry ma’am. I didn’t mean to hit over here’.

“The ball hit off her head back into play and Tiger ended up making par.

“After Tiger finished the hole someone came over with the ball and handed it to her along with a signed glove.

“The Nike ball has the word Tiger printed in capitals and has been marked with a black marker.

“It was a nice gesture for him to come over.”

Mrs Wilson was treated by paramedics at the scene before being taken to get the stitches in an ambulance unit on site.

Mr Wilson said, “She was hit on the top of the head and slumped to her knees.

“There was a bit of blood and she was attended to by paramedics. She required a couple of stitches and says that she has a bit of a headache but it won’t stop us going back on to the course.

“Before Tiger hit the shot, I told Jennifer you better get your crash helmet on, Tiger’s coming. I couldn’t believe it when the ball actually hit her.

“We didn’t see it coming because Tiger was round the corner. It just missed two children in front of us.

“She’ll dine out on this story for years.”

The couple from Armagh, Northern Ireland, said that they often attended the Open when it was played in Scotland, including Carnoustie in 1999.

Sergio Garcia also hit a ball into the spectators on Saturday.

His approach to the 17th hit a photographer on the neck.

Garcia also apologised and signed a ball and a glove for the man.