Australian golfer, Jeffrey Guan, who was at risk of permanent eyesight loss, has been released from the hospital. The latest update from Golf New South Wales reveals that Guan’s condition remains uncertain at this point. 

Guan, who made his PGA Tour debut at the Procore Championship last month, was hit by an errant tee shot in his home country. The 20-year-old golfer was playing at the Pro-Am for the New South Wales Open regional qualifier. Guan suffered multiple fractures in his eye socket. 

Initial reports indicated that the youngster was at risk of losing eyesight. He was treated by paramedics at the course, before being transferred to Canberra for further treatment. Eventually, he was admitted to Sydney Eye Hospital. 

Golf NSW in its latest statement said, “While he is no longer under constant medical supervision, there is still no clear timeline for his recovery, and the long-term prognosis remains uncertain at this stage. Jeff’s recovery is only just the beginning and it is expected to be a long and challenging journey.”

The statement also mentions that PGA of Australia, Golf Australia, and Golf NSW are in touch with Guan’s family. The officials are ensuring that Jeffrey Guan receives the best treatment for his future recovery. The prognosis and the extent of the injury are not yet clear.

While golf ball-related injuries are far more common than we think, golfers getting hit by a ball in their eye is nothing short of unprecedented. In the 2018 Ryder Cup, one spectator was hit by Brooks Koepka’s errant tee shot. She suffered a life-altering injury and her words gave some hint of what Guan went through.

Cases of getting hit by golf balls and their ramifications 

In the 2018 Ryder Cup at Le Golf National, Corine Remande was hit by Koepka’s drive on the opening day. Later recounting the incident, she told NBC News, “When the ball hit my eye, all my eye exploded.” Interestingly, Remande also shared that the pain was so intense that it had a numbing effect. “I didn’t feel like the ball had struck my eye and then I felt the blood start to pour. The scan on Friday confirmed a fracture of the right eye-socket and an explosion of the eyeball,” Guardian quoted her as saying. 

Corine Remande lost her eyesight. It’s not exactly clear how Guan was hit, however. Per an Australian News Outlet, the ball was hit by his playing partner. But there is no certainty on the matter. Nevertheless, a negative outcome will be a huge loss for the world of Golf and Guan’s native country.

The 20-year-old turned pro in 2023 on the Cameron Smith Scholarship. Smith started the scholarship in 2016 to promote young amateurs. Jeffrey Guan spent time with the Ripper GC captain as part of the scholarship. He was flown to Florida, and Smith mentored him for a week.