At the 2025 Derek Jeter Invitational charity golf event in the Bahamas, what was meant to be a relaxed star-studded day of swings and charity turned into an unforgettable moment of chaos — and a bit of hilarity.
During the celebrity shootout portion of the tournament, rapper Ja Rule (Jeffrey Atkins) stepped up to tee off. Instead of sending the ball down the fairway, his shot shanked wildly to the right and sliced sharply into the group of spectators, photographers, and even some fellow participants.
The ball came dangerously close to former New York Yankees pitcher CC Sabathia, who instinctively ducked just in time as the ball whizzed past inches overhead — a near-miss that quickly became the most-talked-about clip of the day.
Golfweek reporter Adam Schupak, who was among those in the gallery, shared the moment on social media, writing:
> “Ja Rule almost took me and a bunch of photographers out with his tee shot in the celebrity shootout at the Derek Jeter Invitational.”
In another angle shared online, veteran sports photographer Rob Tringali revealed that he actually felt the impact on his elbow but walked away without serious injury — a testament to how fortunate everyone was despite the dangerous swing.
Ja Rule immediately showed concern after realizing how far off target his drive had gone, checking on those nearby and even responding with a bit of humor to fans online after the fact.
Despite the surprise fright, no one was seriously injured, and the event continued in good spirits with its core mission intact — raising funds and awareness for Derek Jeter’s Turn 2 Foundation, which supports youth development and healthy lifestyles.
The celebrity moment, as dramatic as it was, served as a reminder that even a fun weekend of golf can deliver headlines — especially when rappers and baseball legends share the fairway.
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