Masters champion of 2011 Charl Schwartzel avoided near disaster on the ninth after his approach sailed the green but struck a fan’s handbag.
The young girl indeed got the fright of her life, but her bag saved Schwartzel from a big number when the ball landed safely inside play – unlike many other shots on Friday that went out of bounds over the back of the green. The fan was duly thanked by gentleman Charl, who gave her a hug after confirming she was unharmed.
The lie was still precarious but Schwartzel displayed his class with a flop shot and calmly rolled in the testing par putt.
Schwartzel finished 36 holes at five under par, eight behind the leaders.
