Cristie Kerr has competed in the U.S. Women’s Open every year since 1998. But the 2007 winner’s status for next week’s championship at Champions Golf Club in Houston is unclear after Golfweek reported that she was involved in a golf cart accident on Friday.
Kerr, 43, was set to play in the second round of the Volunteers of America Classic at Old American Golf Club outside Dallas when she and her caddie, Matt Gelczis, were hurt in an early-morning accident. The two went to the emergency room for treatment and were discharged several hours later, Kerr’s husband Erik Stevens confirmed with Golfweek.
The extent of the injuries to Kerr and Gelczis is unknown. Kerr was forced to withdraw from the LPGA event after shooting a one-over 72 in the first round.
LPGA officials had no comment about the report. Kerr’s representatives have been contacted by Golf Digest and have not yet responded.
If Kerr, a 20-time winner on the LPGA Tour, were to play in the Women’s Open, she would take over as the golfer with the longest active streak of consecutive appearances at 23. Karrie Webb has played in 24 straight but is not in next week’s field. In addition to her win in 2007 at Pine Needles, Kerr has seven other top-10 finishes in the Women’s Open.
— Additional reporting from Keely Levins