As Tiger Woods, the world’s top golfer, lined up his second shot at the long sixth hole at Carnoustie yesterday, Cecil Wilson looked at his wife Jennifer and whispered: “Here comes Tiger, love, you’d better get your crash helmet on.”

Seconds later, 64-year-old Jennifer lay pole-axed on the rain-soaked ground. Tiger’s wayward iron shot had sliced into the crowd at the side of the fairway and smacked her straight on the head.

Luckily for Tiger, the ball bounced 20 yards back into play. But Jennifer, of County Antrim, Northern Ireland, sank to her knees, blood streaming from a deep cut. “I’m OK,” she said bravely as a clearly shaken Woods, 31, rushed over to her.

The defending Open champion crouched down and held her hand. “I’m sorry, I’m so sorry. I can’t believe what’s happened,” the new father-of-one said.

Jennifer Wilson is given oxygen after being hit by Tiger's shot

He then dug into his pocket, took out one of his gloves, signed it and handed it to her with a ball as a prized memento.
Medics bandaged her head and gave her an oxygen mask before taking her off on a cart to the course’s medical centre where she was given two stitches.

Cecil said: “We were standing 30 yards short of the green. I know Tiger does go off line from time to time but I couldn’t believe it when Jennifer then got clunked. She’s lying down but is hoping to go back and see some more golf. We are trying to get Tiger to sign the ball. My wife did him a favour, she headed it back in for him.”

Tiger, who went on to par the holeen route to a 69, said: “I saw the ball bounce out and figured it hit somebody. It was terrible. I felt really bad.”