Golfer Andrea Pavan hospitalized after falling down elevator shaft in South Africa

Sean LeahyThu, February 26, 2026 at 6:26 PM UTC

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Andrea Pavan's most recent win came at the 2019 BMW International Open where he beat Matt Fitzpatrick in a playoff. (SOPA Images via Getty Images)

Golfer Andrea Pavan has pulled out of this week's DP World Tour event in South Africa after he was hospitalized following a fall down an elevator shaft.

According to Ryan French of Monday Q Info and Golf Channel's Brentley Romine, the 36-year-old two-time DP World Tour winner fell multiple floors in a building where he was staying after the doors of the elevator opened, but no cab was there and Pavan stepped through.

The Rome, Italy, native reportedly needed "extensive" surgeries on Wednesday night for his injuries, which included his shoulder and back.

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“By all accounts, he’s in good spirits, thankful to be alive and FaceTiming with his kids,” J.T. Higgins, Pavan's college coach at Texas A&M, told Romine.

The DP World Tour confirmed Pavan's withdrawal due to injury, but did not offer specifics.

Pavan has eight total wins in his professional career, the last coming at the 2019 BMW International Open in Germany where he beat Matt Fitzpatrick in a playoff. While at Texas A&M, he was a part of the program's 2009 NCAA championship team. He has played in three majors, including last year's U.S. Open at Oakmont Country Club.

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Source: “AOL Sports”