Golf ball nearly hits spectator in the head [Video]

As a golf fan watching at a tournament, you have the privilege of being up close to all the action.

Lining the course, spectators can almost reach out and touch their favorite players as they go about their business of driving, chipping and putting.

That proximity also means that they are offered very little protection from potentially wayward shots – as one onlooker at The Players Championship on Saturday almost found out to their cost as they watched US golfer Max Homa at TPC Sawgrass.

Homa had been enjoying a promising start to the tournament and was one-under par after the 13th hole in his third round and in touching distance of the leaders.

Then things turned sour on the 14th hole for the 33-year-old American golfer.

First, his drive found the water down the left before his next shot was shanked into the trees.

With the 33-year-old’s progress towards the hole impeded by …