I had to run for my life after near-death experience at the Masters – I still have nightmares about it

THE last thing you would expect when enjoying a day out at the golf would be a tree falling on you.

However, that is exactly what happened to Sylvia Martin during The Masters in Augusta, GA, USA last year.

ESPN

Three 100-foot trees fell into a crowd of spectators on day two of The Masters last year[/caption]

ESPN

Sylvia Martin, circled, has recalled her terrifying ordeal[/caption]

ESPN

She recalled how she had nightmares for weeks after the event[/caption]

AP

Miraculously no one was hurt when the trees fell due to the wind[/caption]

Reuters

Play was suspended while the clean-up crew came in to sort it out[/caption]

AP

Spectators joined the clear-up effort at hole 17[/caption]

Terrifying footage showed the moment three gargantuan 100-foot pines trees fell into a crowd of spectators on the 17th hole on day two of the Augusta National following violent winds in the afternoon.

Luckily no one was injured in the incident, but Sylvia has opened up on the psychological scars she has suffered as a result of the ordeal in an interview with Golf.com.

Martin revealed how she would have nightmares about the trees for weeks after the incident, saying: “When you live through something like that, it’s traumatic…

“I would just hear the cracking sound and scream again.

“Then I would wake up kind of sweaty, kind of, like, just thankful to be alive. You just can’t believe that you lived through something like that.”

She recalled how a shout of “go! go! go!” from Deshey Thomas saved her life.

Thomas had noticed pinecones falling from overhanging branches but thought nothing of it until he saw the three massive trees swaying before hearing an eerie crack which many admitted to believing was lightning at the time.

Martin said: “If he hadn’t yelled, I wouldn’t have gone. He saved my life.”

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The interview saw Martin reunite with Thomas, who humbly said: “I wouldn’t say I was a hero. I just acted quickly. You know, the fight or flight kicks in.”

He added: “Even on the golf course now, if I see a huge pine and it’s a windy day, I’m kind of looking up and reliving that moment.

“You never know how quickly life can come and go and how unexpected things could happen out of nowhere.

“Part of my perspective is just not taking any days for granted. Like, it was the best news I’ve ever gotten. When I walked on the grounds, I was, like, this is what they talk about. The Masters.

“And then it goes from being the best day of your life — of being at The Masters for your first time — to what could have been the worst day of my life as well.”

This year adverse weather saw start of round one of The Masters delayed by an hour and a half.

The winner of this year’s tournament will win more than £2.5million.