Rory McIlroy Shanks One into Fan's Head at 2012 British Open

Rory McIlroy had a nice day at the Open Championship at Royal Lytham, despite hitting one wide and straight into the noggin of a golf fan. 

The wind picked up in the afternoon, and the wild British Open became that much more crazy. In one moment, the real danger wasn't the multitude of bunkers, but the errant shot of Northern Ireland's McIlroy. 

ESPN (h/t Busted Coverage) reports on the exact moment McIlroy's day could have gone into the garbage. 

He drove one off the tee at No. 15 and to the right. Instead of just a bad lie, he found he had quite the banged-up fan instead.

McIlroy made the head injury almost worth it with a signed glove and the punishment that came with a double bogey on the hole.

A trying tournament like the Open could spiral out of control after something like that. 

Instead, McIlroy calmly finished off the round with two birdies in the last three holes, finishing with a 3-under 67, well within reach of the leader Adam Scott, who is 6-under 64 for the day.

For fans, the only safe way to watch golf is from home. Unless, of course, Chris Berman is featuring on the broadcast. 

Then you might opt to get bonked on the head. 

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