Hip-hop star Ja Rule had a terrifying brush with disaster this week after a badly skewed golf shot flew directly into a crowd of onlookers at a high-profile celebrity tournament.
A Close Call on the Tee Box
The incident occurred during the Derek Jeter Invitational, a charity golf event hosted by the baseball legend in the Bahamas. Remarkable footage, captured from just meters away by Golfweek reporter Adam Schupak, shows the rapper preparing to tee off with a crowd of people and photographers gathered perilously close around the tee box.
"I have to ignore y'all right now, I have to put this thing up," Ja Rule was heard saying as he lined up his shot. Instead of soaring down the fairway, the ball flew low and hard to the right, straight into the group of nearby photographers.
The rapper immediately offered profuse apologies as members of the crowd recoiled in fear. Fortunately, no one appeared to suffer any serious injury from the alarming mishap.
From Pandemic Hobby to Near-Miss
Ironically, Schupak had interviewed Ja Rule just 24 hours before the near-miss. In that conversation, the rapper explained he took up golf during the COVID-19 pandemic and had quickly become hooked on the sport.
He even made a bold claim about his skills on the eve of the event, telling the reporter: "Tell them I’m the best hip-hop golfer." The following day, he almost hit that same reporter with his errant tee shot during the celebrity shootout.
A Star-Studded Event for a Cause
The Derek Jeter Invitational draws a glittering array of stars from the worlds of sport and music to the Caribbean each year to support a worthy cause. Past participants include sporting icons like Michael Jordan, Bryson DeChambeau, and Michael Strahan, alongside music stars such as Ludacris and Flo Rida.
The primary aim of the tournament is to raise awareness and funds for Jeter's Turn 2 Foundation. The organisation's mission is to create and support programmes that motivate young people to turn away from drugs and alcohol and "Turn 2" healthy lifestyles.
While this year's event provided a moment of high drama, it ultimately underscored the unpredictable nature of celebrity amateur golf, all in aid of a significant charitable endeavour.
