ESPN Host 'Covered In Blood' After Being Hit In Face With Rahm Drive

Reports state that ESPN SportsCenter anchor Sage Steele was hospitalised on Thursday at the PGA Championship

Sage Steele pictured holding a microphone
(Image credit: Getty Images)

ESPN anchor Sage Steele was reportedly injured on Thursday at the PGA Championship after being struck by a stray drive from Jon Rahm.

The World No.2 hooked his tee shot left on the third hole at Southern Hills, yelling cries of 'fore' before his shot apparently struck Steele in the face. It's unclear as to whether Rahm was aware his drive struck Sage, as his ball eventually ended up in the fairway on the third hole. Rahm did not speak to media following his opening round and was not asked about the incident following his second round.

Sage was apparently hospitalised following the impact and has returned home to recover according to the New York Post.

A witness told golf writer Geoff Shackleford that they “saw her on the ground, holding her nose, mouth or chin area” and her hands were “covered in blood.” Sage was said to be watching the action following the conclusion of her work on ESPN SportsCenter.

A clip posted to social media seemed to confirm the incident.

Aaron Wise was then struck by a wayward drive on Friday at Southern Hills after Cameron Smith's carved tee shot on the second hole hit him in the head. Wise was playing the seventh hole and was on his knees for around 30 seconds and held ice to his head after the round.

Elliott Heath
News Editor

Elliott Heath is our News Editor and has been with Golf Monthly since early 2016 after graduating with a degree in Sports Journalism. He manages the Golf Monthly news team as well as our large Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages. He covered the 2022 Masters from Augusta National as well as five Open Championships on-site including the 150th at St Andrews. His first Open was in 2017 at Royal Birkdale, when he walked inside the ropes with Jordan Spieth during the Texan's memorable Claret Jug triumph. He has played 35 of our Top 100 golf courses, with his favourites being both Sunningdales, Woodhall Spa, Western Gailes, Old Head and Turnberry. He has been obsessed with the sport since the age of 8 and currently plays off of a six handicap. His golfing highlights are making albatross on the 9th hole on the Hotchkin Course at Woodhall Spa, shooting an under-par round, playing in the Aramco Team Series on the Ladies European Tour and making his one and only hole-in-one at the age of 15 - a long time ago now!

Elliott is currently playing:

Driver: Titleist TSR4

3 wood: Titleist TSi2

Hybrids: Titleist 816 H1

Irons: Mizuno MP5 5-PW

Wedges: Cleveland RTX ZipCore 50, 54, 58

Putter: Odyssey White Hot OG #5

Ball: Srixon Z Star XV