Freak accidents are commonplace in sports and can happen anytime, but what happened to Oregon’s Greg Solhaug was something not even his seasoned head coach had seen before.
“I’ve been in golf nearly 50 years and have never seen anything like that,” said Oregon men’s coach Casey Martin after Solhaug’s injury. “He was in a lot of pain.”
During the second round of the 54-hole stroke play at the NCAA Championship at Grayhawk Golf Club earlier this week, Solhaug was playing his 11th hole of the day — he started on the 10th hole — when he stepped on a wooden tee on the tee box that went through his shoe and into his foot.
The pain forced him to withdraw from the event while he was sitting at two-over par for his round at the time of the injury.
Thinking of junior Greg Solhaug, who was forced to withdraw from today’s round due to injury. pic.twitter.com/gxXtAeJLai
— Oregon Men’s Golf (@OregonMGolf) May 27, 2023
Rick Nixon, the NCAA’s associate director for media coordination and statistics, provided the following statement to Golfweek.com: “Oregon student-athlete, Gregory Solhaug, suffered a foot injury during the second round of the NCAA Division I Men’s Golf Championships and was forced to withdraw from the competition.
“Oregon, which completed Saturday’s second round with four players, will have the option to substitute another player into their team lineup for subsequent competition rounds, as they deem appropriate.”
Since Solhaug could not finish his round, Greyson Leach’s seven-over-par round of 77 ended up counting for the team score.
Nate Krueger, the assistant athletic director of communications for Oregon, confirmed the injury to Golfweek.
Solhaug’s immediate condition was not known nor was the extent of the injury, but it was serious enough that he was forced to withdraw from the tournament.
Oregon’s Gregory Solhaug is at the course today. If you remember, he had a tee go almost all the way through his foot Saturday. He’s doing well and should be able to walk on it again in two weeks, he said #NCAAGolf pic.twitter.com/YQ9nR3WF7I
— Cameron Jourdan (@Cam_Jourdan) May 28, 2023
He was seen on the grounds during the third-round cheering on his teammates. He was on crutches due to his injury.
Oregon finished in 27th place and failed to advance to the fourth round or match play.
