Corine Remande, 49, was hit just above her right eye socket when Brooks Koepka hit an errant tee shot at the sixth hole at the Le Golf National course near Paris, ESPN reported. Remande's injury occurred during the fourball matches between the United States and Europe.
"It happened so fast, I didn't feel any pain when I was hit. I didn't feel like the ball had struck my eye and then I felt the blood start to pour," Remande told Agence France-Presse. "The scan on Friday confirmed a fracture of the right eye-socket and an explosion of the eyeball."
"It looked like it hurt," Koepka, 28, the world’s current world No. 3 player, told reporters. “It's hard to control a golf ball, especially for 300 yards, and a lot of times the fans are close to the fairway.
"You can yell 'fore' but it doesn't matter from 300 yards, you can't hear it."
Kopeka signed a glove for Remande in offering an apology at the time, ESPN reported.
He said he felt terrible after realizing the extent of Remande’s injury.
"You don't want to hit anybody in the face, especially not a woman, and it's not a good feeling," Kopeka told reporters.
While Remande praised Koepka, she criticized Ryder Cup organizers for "not making contact" with her following the incident, Newsweek reported.
“Quite clearly, there is responsibility on the part of the organizers,” Remande told the magazine. “Officials did not shout any warning as the player’s ball went into the crowd. More than anything I want them to take care of all the medical bills to make sure there is no risk of infection.”
A Ryder Cup spokesman said in a statement Tuesday that it was "distressing to hear that someone might suffer long term consequences from a ball strike."
"The spectator hit by a ball at the 6th hole during Friday's play was treated by first responders immediately and taken to hospital," the statement said. "We have been in communication with the family involved, starting with the immediate on-course treatment and thereafter to provide support.
"We can confirm that 'fore' was shouted several times but also appreciate how hard it can be to know when and where every ball is struck if you are in the crowd. We are hugely sympathetic and will do everything we can to support the spectator, insofar as that is possible under very difficult circumstances."
Europe regained the Ryder Cup by winning 17.5-10.5.
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