Farmington, Pa. — Shaun Micheel could be forgiven as a potentially great round turned into a very good one at the 84 Lumber Classic. Once playing partner David Toms was rushed to a hospital with a racing pulse, Micheel had a lot more on his mind than golf.
Micheel was in the midst of cutting eight shots off par during a remarkable nine-hole stretch Thursday when Toms - a former PGA champion - became white-faced, dropped to his knee in discomfort complaining of a rapid heartbeat and was rushed off the course in an ambulance.
Toms was in good condition at UPMC Presbyterian Hospital in Pittsburgh on Thursday night. A hospital administrator initially said Toms was in critical condition but, later in the evening, administrator on duty Dolores Stairs said Toms was in good condition. Adam Young, the director of the David Toms Foundation, said Toms spoke to his family members several times during the evening after undergoing tests.
Micheel no doubt lost some of his concentration during what he called "a scary moment."
He bogeyed his final three holes to settle for a 7-under 65, not long after a 59 or a 60 seemed a possibility.
"It shook me up. He went down to his knee, got up and walked a few steps and then went back to his knee," Micheel said. "When an ambulance backs up to the first tee, it tells you it's a little more serious."
Toms, 38, initially was taken to the nearby Uniontown Hospital, then was transported by helicopter to UPMC Presbyterian for further tests.
The hospital disclosed no other information.
Toms was even-par through nine holes, taking a bogey on No. 18 after previously being 1 under.
"I asked him if he wanted a drink of water, and he just said his chest was hurting and his heart was racing," Micheel said.
Micheel went on to birdie Nos. 1, 2 and 3 immediately after Toms was stricken, as the group started the day on No. 10, and had an eagle on the par-5 No. 5 and a birdie on the par-4 No. 6 to get to 10 under.
Micheel bogeyed the final three holes on the 7,516-yard Mystic Rock course to settle for a 7-under-par 65 and a four-way tie with Mark O'Meara, South Korea's Charlie Wi and Nationwide Tour phenom Jason Gore.
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