Terrifying moment PGA star nearly strikes fan from close range

English golf star Aaron Rai was inches away from hitting a fan in a terrifying incident at the PGA Championship on Friday.

The world No 29 was taking a shot from the rough during his second round, with a bunch of spectators gathered to his right.

A giant tree stood between Rai and his target and the Englishman attempted to keep the ball low to avoid the overhanging branches.

Unfortunately, he miscued his shot, which flew perilously close to one fan before cannoning into the tree trunk and rebounding in the opposite direction.

Slow-motion replays showed supporters recoiling in panic as the ball flew in their direction at around knee height.

Thankfully no one was hurt in the scary incident, which occurred on the 16th hole at Quail Hollow.

Rai ended up making a double bogey to continue a chaotic second round that already included five birdies and four other dropped shots.  

Elsewhere during round two, Tyrrell Hatton’s frustrations boiled over once more as he squandered a promising start to the year's second major.

Hatton was within a shot of the lead after going two-under-par across the first eight holes of his second round, only to then run up a damaging triple bogey on the 18th.

After pulling his tee shot on the difficult par four into the creek which runs the length of the hole, Hatton could be clearly heard shouting 'piece of s***... c***' at the face of his driver.

A day earlier, Hatton was heard berating himself in another X-rated tirade. At the par-three 17th on Thursday, he saw his tee shot land just off the right side of the green and his furious reaction was then caught on a hot mic.

'Oh my God,' Hatton said. 'That is... the worst f***ing...'