SYDNEY, Australia — A rising Australian golf star who made his US PGA Tour debut last month has vowed to keep playing despite losing sight in one eye after a freak accident on the course.

Jeffrey Guan, 20, was hit in the face by a ball at a tournament south of Sydney in late September, severely fracturing his left cheekbone and eye socket.

The PGA of Australia revealed he had “permanently lost the sight in his left eye”.

In his first statement since the accident, Guan – a former Australian amateur junior champion including Adam Scott, Jason Day and Cameron Smith – said he was “absolutely upset”.

“During the nights I spent in the hospital, I almost drowned in thoughts about the injury and my future in the sport,” he said.

“Not only was I completely distraught by the news I had received, but the whole situation made me very depressed and somewhat angry.

“These four weeks have been the hardest of my life,” he added. “But I am mentally stronger and I will be ready to overcome any obstacle in the future.

“I’ll be back.”

Before the crash, Guan was signed to the same management company that boasts major winners Jon Rahm and Phil Mickelson.

He received a sponsor’s invitation to the PGA Tour Procore Championship in California, where he shot 69 and 75 to narrowly miss the cut.