Royal Portrush, July 19 — Veteran PGA Tour golfer Kevin Kisner shocked the golf world on Friday with a chilling account of a bizarre and terrifying near-death experience involving a bat.
Speaking after his second round at The Open Championship, Kisner was asked about a cryptic social media post he made earlier in the week referring to “barely escaping death” at a rental home near the Northern Irish coastline. His explanation was equal parts surreal and serious.
“I was getting ready for bed when I heard this weird fluttering sound,” Kisner said. “At first, I thought maybe a bird had gotten in. I walked into the living room, and there it was — a full-size bat, just going wild.”
Kisner recounted ducking and dodging as the bat swooped aggressively around the room. He admitted he panicked, slamming the door shut and arming himself with a broomstick in an effort to defend himself.
“I didn’t know what to do. This thing was dive-bombing me like it wanted blood,” he said. “I’ve never moved so fast in my life. It was like being trapped in a horror movie.”
Kisner eventually managed to trap the bat in a hallway and escape to another part of the house. Animal control arrived the next morning to remove the creature. According to reports, the bat was tested for rabies as a precaution, though Kisner was not bitten or scratched.
Though his tone was lighthearted, Kisner admitted the ordeal left him rattled — and sleep-deprived — heading into the tournament.
“People think the grind is on the course. They don’t see the stuff you deal with just trying to get a good night’s rest. I honestly thought I might not make it out,” he joked, before turning serious. “But honestly, it was one of the scariest moments of my life.”
The 40-year-old, who has battled injuries and inconsistent form over the past season, sits well outside the lead at Royal Portrush. But if there’s one thing Kisner has shown this week, it’s resilience — on and off the course.
