ESPN SportsCenter co-host Sage Steele was struck in the face last month in the midst of the iconic PGA Championship golf event.
Ga Fullner / Shutterstock.com
In the midst of the PGA Tour, the sports commentator reported her life flashing before her eyes when a stray ball came hurtling towards her head. She has since returned to the air and during her first appearance back, she said she felt like the “luckiest person in the world to still be here”, considering 2021 U.S. Open winner Jon Rahm was responsible for the incident.
“It is amazing how quickly life can change, right? One moment you’re out on a course just innocently watching amazing golfers play at a golf major moment. [Then] you’re on the ground,” Steele commented, speaking on behalf of her experience after returning to work. “You’re in pain with your entire life flashing before your eyes, scared to death trying to comprehend what the hell just happened.”
“I just want to real quick thank a couple of people starting with the man upstairs,” she continued. “Thanks to God because, honestly … I feel like the luckiest person in the world to still be here and be standing after that, which was three weeks ago tomorrow.”
Wednesday, @sagesteele returned to the Noon ET edition of @SportsCenter – for the first time since she was struck in the face by a golf ball on May 19 at the PGA Championship
At the time of the accident, many spectators described the scene as slightly gruesome. With blood being present, it was clear her injuries needed to be taken seriously. After approximately three weeks into her recovery, Steele voiced that she still has more to work on before she’s completely back to her normal routine.
Sage Steele says co-host Matt Barrie made her smile at her lowest point
In addition to detailing the incident, the ESPN host also thanked her co-worker Matt Barrie for sticking by her side as she was brought to a nearby hospital on a stretcher.
“My teammate, my co-host, who was right there next to me when this whole damn thing happened,” she shared, giving gratitude to Barrie. “Even when I was at the lowest point of my life arguably, thank you for making me smile.”
When accepting the thanks, Barrie made sure to give Steele credit where credit is due and insisted she took the hit “like a champ.”
“I’ve been to a golf course my entire life,” he began. “I told a couple of people it was a one in 50 million. I’ll say this, and I’ve said this before, you took that like a champ. Most people would’ve passed out.”
At The Buzzer, or ATB is the place for those who love sports, life, family, community, and so much more. We are far from the run-of-the-mill 24/7 sports news websites. We not only bring you what’s happening in the world of sports in terms of trades and breaking news, but we also bring you the news that goes on behind the scenes, like big life moments, and so much more. So take a minute and read one of our articles, we promise you won't regret it.
