‘Unbearable pain’: Prodigy opens up after nearly losing eye in freak golf accident

The Australian golf prodigy who was struck in the eye by a wayward golf ball doesn’t blame the playing partner responsible for a “freak accident” that has left him without sight in his left eye, potentially derailing a professional career.

Jeff Guan suffered serious damage to his left eye and face last month after being hit by a ball while playing in a pro-am tournament at the Catalina club in Batemans Bay.

The 20-year-old on Thursday shared details of the sickening accident and the weeks of pain and devastation that have followed.

Guan, who had made his debut on the US PGA Tour a week earlier, revealed he had just played his second shot on the third hole when he turned to put his club in his cart, and was struck by a ball from a distance of “30-40 metres”.

The ball was hit by a golfer in Guan’s playing group. Pro-am tournaments see professional and amateur golfers grouped together.

“The instant ringing and pain rushed to my head, and I dropped to the ground. Voices sounded pretty muffled, and the next thing I knew, I was in an ambulance being transported to a hospital with skin patches containing high doses of Fentanyl,” Guan said in a statement.

Jeff Guan is recovering after an horrific accident in a pro-am golf tournament.Credit: David Tease/NSW Golf

He was rushed to the nearby Moruya Hospital, and was later airlifted to Canberra and then moved to intensive care at the Sydney Eye Hospital.

In “unbearable pain” and distress, Guan underwent several surgeries, and will require more in coming months, and spent several weeks in intensive care with the eye under enormous pressure.

“I couldn’t do much; sleeping was difficult, let alone walking or eating. Any activity that required energy meant I was in excruciating pain,” Guan said.

“During my nights in hospital, I almost drowned in thoughts about the injury and my future in the sport. Not only was I utterly distraught by the news I had received, but the whole situation made me very depressed and somewhat angry.

Australian golfer Jeff Guan in 2022, ahead of the Junior Presidents Cup.Credit: Edwina Pickles

“Anxiety about my future was swirling in my mind. I was utterly distraught. It has come at a tremendous cost and has significantly affected me and my family.

“Why did this happen? How in the world am I supposed to recover, return, and be the same player I was, or even better? I felt so devastated and lost.”

Guan has, so far, not regained any sight in his left eye, however, and specialists have told him his recovery will take up to a year. He will not be able to swing a golf club for six months, and along with questions about how loss of vision in one eye will impact his ability, Guan’s future as an elite golfer is under a cloud.

Five weeks on, Guan said he is now in a more positive mindset and has started going for short walks.

Guan is hoping to return to the course when doctors give the all-clear.Credit: David Tease/NSW Golf

He said he has not given up on pursuing a career in golf.

“Hopefully – I have had people talk to me about other athletes who have played sports with other injuries, not just the eye but even more severe, like the loss of a limb. That shows how people can come around from their injury and recovery and still play their sport,” Guan told this masthead.

“I have been thinking about it quite a bit. It might be a six-month to a year recovery, but I am looking forward to getting back into it.”

Guan said he held no ill will towards the person responsible for the golf ball that hit him, but said he’d not spoken with them.

“They have reached out to Golf NSW and Golf Australia while I was in hospital, but I didn’t have any contact with anyone at that stage,” Guan said.

“I don’t blame anyone at all. It was just a freak accident.”

Guan, who is a past recipient of a Cameron Smith scholarship and travelled to the US to spend time with the Australian star, has received messages of support from Adam Scott, Jason Day and Min Woo Lee.

Guan finished tied for 18th at the Australian PGA Championship and 21st in the Australian Open last year as a teenager.

Guan said he is undertaking a golf coaching course and will pursue coaching if playing doesn’t work out.

“These four weeks have been the toughest of my life, but I am stronger mentally and will be ready to conquer any obstacle in the future,” he said in a statement.

“Again, I can’t thank everyone enough who reached out to help rebuild my strength physically and emotionally. I will be back.”

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