Golf

Caddie in hospital after being struck by stray shot from Vijay Singh

Marco Dawson’s bagman William Ciplinski taken to hospital for overnight observation

Vijay Singh (right) looks on as Marco Dawson’s caddie William Ciplinski is tended to by medical staff having been struck by a shot from the Fijian golfer during a practice round at Troon ahead of the British Open. Photograph: Craig Brough/Reuters
Vijay Singh (right) looks on as Marco Dawson’s caddie William Ciplinski is tended to by medical staff having been struck by a shot from the Fijian golfer during a practice round at Troon ahead of the British Open. Photograph: Craig Brough/Reuters
Tue Jul 12 2016 - 19:28

A British Open caddie was taken to hospital after being hit on the head by a stray shot from former world number one Vijay Singh during a practice round on Tuesday.

William Ciplinski, bagman for American veteran Marco Dawson, was lying flat out on a golf buggy when he was initially taken to the medical centre at Royal Troon.

Open officials said the injuries the caddie sustained were not serious and that he was talking and fully conscious before being transferred to hospital for overnight observation.

Ciplinski was standing on the eighth green when he was struck by an errant tee shot from Fijian Singh on the seventh hole.

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A spokesman for University Hospital Ayr later said the Troon local should be fit for Thursday’s opening round providing he has a day’s rest.

Dawson qualified for the British Open by winning the senior equivalent at Sunningdale 12 months ago.