Snooker star Mark Williams found himself in a precarious situation recently when he was struck in the head by a golf ball while giving his son some tips on the sport. The incident occurred during a day off from snooker, as Williams was trying to impart his wisdom on the golf course to his son. However, things took a painful turn when the ball ricocheted off a practice shot and hit the 49-year-old on the head.
The Welsh Potting Machine, as Williams is affectionately known, was in obvious discomfort following the incident. He took to social media to share CCTV footage of the mishap, exclaiming, “This is what happens when you try and give your boy some tips at golf ffs, my jaw is killing.” Despite the pain, Williams reassured fans that he was “fine” but had a “nice lump” as a result of the unexpected blow.
Luckily, the injury was not severe enough to jeopardize Williams’ upcoming participation in the Welsh Open and the World Open. However, this was not the first health scare for the three-time world champion this year. Earlier, he had to use oxygen at the table during a tournament in Tibet, where the high altitude posed challenges due to lower air pressure.
Williams, who has three sons with his wife Joanne, including budding snooker star Joel, has been considering reducing his playing schedule. This decision is unrelated to the recent golf incident but is part of his overall strategy to manage his workload and focus on key tournaments.
Despite being the only Welshman to have won the Ray Reardon Trophy twice, Williams remains pragmatic about his future in the sport. Reflecting on his plans, he mentioned, “I’ve missed a few tournaments this season and I’ll probably miss a couple more. I’m just going to chill out and see what’s next. I’m not 100 per cent sure if I’m going to play in the Welsh Open this year yet. I’ve not made my mind up.”
As Williams navigates potential changes to his playing schedule, his fans eagerly await his return to the snooker table, hoping to witness more of his trademark skill and determination. The snooker community stands behind Williams as he faces both the challenges of the game and unexpected hazards like wayward golf balls.
