Golfer donates €20k to hospital

ONE of Europe’s leading golfers has pledged to donate €20,000 to a hospital where his young son was treated after taking ill during this year’s Irish Open.

Ross Fisher’s four-month-old son, Harry, was rushed to Kerry General Hospital after the third day of the big event in Killarney. The infant was diagnosed with a virus and was admitted for treatment.

His son’s illness resulted in the English golfer missing the WCG Bridgestone Invitational in Ohio but he was still entitled to a €20,000 pay-day which he has now vowed to donate to the children’s ward at the hospital.

Fisher, the 2010 Irish Open champion, was well in contention to retain his title before his son became ill but the stress of the situation took its toll on the final day and he finished well down the field at Killarney Golf and Fishing Club.

He shot 73 on the final day and immediately rushed from the course to be at his son’s bedside.

The golfer, 30, and his wife, Jo, remained in Kerry for five days after the Open until doctors gave them the all-clear to fly Harry home to London.

A spokesman for Kerry General Hospital described the donation as “very generous”.

It is understood the funds will be used to purchase a specialist video fluoroscopy machine, which helps assess a young patient’s ability to swallow, as well as helping to provide a room for families whose children are in hospital.

Fisher remarked at the time of his son’s illness: “The people of Killarney, the European Tour, friends and family have been great to us. It is obviously very worrying to see such a young baby become ill but we are delighted to say that Harry is improving with each day.”