Travis Kelce Hits Bystander with Golf Ball at Pebble Beach Pro-Am

The Chiefs tight end has a history of errant drives hitting spectators.

Published on Feb. 15, 2026

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NFL star Travis Kelce, known for his prowess on the football field, encountered an embarrassing incident at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am golf tournament. During the 18th hole, Kelce shanked a drive that struck a female bystander, marking the second time he has hit a spectator with an errant shot in recent years.

Why it matters

Kelce's history of hitting bystanders with golf balls raises questions about player safety and responsibility at high-profile celebrity golf events. As a prominent athlete, Kelce's actions can have a significant impact, both positively and negatively, on public perception and the overall experience for tournament attendees.

The details

On Friday, Kelce was playing the 18th hole at the Pebble Beach Pro-Am when he hit a drive that veered off course and struck a female spectator. This is not the first time Kelce has been involved in such an incident, as he previously hit a woman with a drive while playing at Lake Tahoe in 2024. Despite his success on the football field, Kelce's struggles with golf course control have become a recurring issue.

  • Kelce hit a bystander with a golf ball on the 18th hole at the 2026 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am.
  • In 2024, Kelce hit a woman with a drive while playing at the Lake Tahoe event.

The players

Travis Kelce

A future Hall of Fame tight end who has played his entire 12-year NFL career with the Kansas City Chiefs. Kelce is known for his prowess on the football field, but has struggled with errant golf shots that have struck bystanders at celebrity golf events.

Akshay Bhatia

The current leader of the 2026 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, having shot a 4-under par round on Saturday to reach 19-under par for the tournament.

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What they’re saying

“I'm told that while retirement has been discussed, many close to Travis Kelce believe he could return for a 14th season. The future Hall of Famer has yet to make a final decision about his future.”

— Dianna Russini, NFL insider (Twitter/X)

“I love that shit. I think it's great. It's a marriage (that's) gonna pick up right where it left off. EB and who he is as a coach, you can see kind of his personality, what he brings to this table with that Chicago team. I know Ben Johnson has his own version of that. He's a very tough guy. And what he did in Detroit, he brought over as well. And you can see those running backs over Chicago and their body of work was definitely an Eric Bieniemy style of football ... I can't wait to see him back in the building. Man, he's one of my favorite coaches of all time, one of my favorite people of all time. I've had so many unbelievable, you know, growing moments under him as a player, as a person. And I just love the guy, and it's gonna be awesome to see him back in the building and see him back wearing the Chiefs logo, baby.”

— Travis Kelce (New Heights podcast)

What’s next

The AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am has one more day of competition remaining on Sunday, February 16, 2026.

The takeaway

Kelce's history of hitting bystanders with errant golf shots raises concerns about player responsibility and safety at celebrity golf events. As a high-profile athlete, Kelce's actions can significantly impact the tournament experience and public perception, underscoring the need for greater awareness and precautions to protect spectators.