Rumford recovers from early blow

AUSTRALIAN Brett Rumford put a sickening incident out of his mind to take the first-round lead at the Omega European Masters – the first qualifying event for Europe’s Ryder Cup side – in Switzerland yesterday.

Rumford, winner of the title in 2007, hit a lady spectator just above the eye with his opening drive. The fan hit by Rumford was subsequently released after having stitches.

While she was taken away for treatment with blood streaming down her face, the 32-year-old from Perth, who was told about the incident and anxious to find out about the spectator’s condition, dropped shots on the fourth and fifth holes.