Golf champ rushed to hospital
2005-09-16 07:06
Farmington, Pennsylvania - David Toms was rushed to a hospital after developing a rapid heartbeat during the 84 Lumber Classic on Thursday and was later taken by helicopter to a Pittsburgh hospital.
Toms was even par through nine holes - he started on No. 18 - before being taken off the course on a stretcher, according to US PGA Tour officials.
He was taken first to Uniontown Hospital, then was flown to Pittsburgh's UPMC-Presbyterian University Hospital.
Toms' caddie, Scott Gneiser, said that Toms was airlifted to Pittsburgh because "his heart rate went way up", but that he was "doing better now" after a series of tests. The hospital did not immediately comment on his condition.
Adam Young, the director of the David Toms Foundation, told PGATour.com in an e-mail that Toms was in stable condition.
The 38-year-old Toms, an 11-time tour winner, was playing in the $4.4m 84 Lumber tournament as a tuneup for next week's Presidents Cup in Virginia.
The 2001 US PGA Championship winner also won the Accenture Match Play Classic this year, and is fourth on the 2005 money list with earnings of $3.65m.
This is the second time this week one of golf's best-known players was rushed to a hospital with a heart-related problem.
Meg Mallon was taken to an Indianapolis hospital on Sunday after her heart began beating as many as 290 times a minute shortly after the closing ceremony at the Solheim Cup in Carmel, Indiana.
- SAPA