LaRue Branch was enjoying the final round of the WGC-Accenture Match Play on Sunday, standing on the side of the 13th fairway, when she heard spectators next to her scream, "Duck!"
The SaddleBrooke resident did as she was told, but it was too late.
Branch was nailed by an errant tee shot from Lee Westwood.
This wasn't your ordinary hit and run, though.
Westwood's ball hit Branch on the back of her neck and then got stuck in between her shirt and sweater between her shoulders.
Her life partner, Bill Yates, told her not to touch the ball, so Westwood and the official could see exactly where it was.
When Westwood arrived, he couldn't believe what he saw.
"He felt bad," Branch said. "I know he felt bad. He didn't say much, but he was very nice."
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Yates eventually removed the ball and flipped it to Westwood. He apologized and went on his way.
"I was hoping he would give her something, but it's no big deal."
Branch said it stung for a few minutes, but she felt fine. She was quickly checked out by paramedics on the scene and was deemed OK.
Yates said he was just happy the ball hit her in the neck and not in the head.
"All the people out here and it happened to hit you," Yates said smiling.
When she was alerted it was all captured on TV, a blushing Branch said, "If they called me a hazard, I will die."
Yates set the DVR on his television before they left for the tournament and they were eager to check out the coverage when they arrived back home Sunday night.
The couple went to the first Match Play event in Tucson in 2007 and hadn't been back before Sunday's appearance.
"These guys put on a great show," Branch said. "I'm happy to be here and I'll keep coming."
Wilson pleased with week
It's been roughly 16 years since third-place winner Mark Wilson played as much competitive golf in a week as he did during his five-day stay at Match Play.
"It's probably been since I played the U.S. Amateur in 1996 or so," he said. "It's not too bad. We're professionals and we're conditioned for it."
Wilson beat Westwood 1-up to claim third place and win $600,000. It will also help his bid to earn a spot on the 2012 U.S. Ryder Cup team.
"It's all about the Ryder Cup this year for me," Wilson said. "This will definitely help and that's nice."
Wilson went 5-1 on the week, losing to eventual champion Hunter Mahan in the semifinals. He picked up wins over Bo Van Pelt, Robert Rock, Dustin Johnson, Peter Hanson and Westwood.
"I think I learned this week that I'm a pretty good match play player," said Wilson, 37.
Wilson will now head to Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., for the Honda Classic. He said he would take a few days off and show up Wednesday in time for the pro-am.
Ping success
Perhaps no one enjoyed Sunday's final round as much as Ping.
The golf company sponsors three of the four golfers who played Sunday in Wilson, Westwood and Mahan and got plenty of exposure throughout the day.
Wilson said he pulls for other Ping players in tournaments and often talks to them throughout his round if they're nearby.
"A lot of use the same clubs, so we'll talk about how we played certain shots and what club we used where," Wilson said. "I'm thrilled for Hunter that he won and thrilled for Ping."
Wilson said he also runs into other Ping golfers in the factory in Phoenix and forms relationships with them.
