YARRALUMLA, Australia, Feb. 14 (UPI) -- Daniela Holmqvist said cutting her leg to get rid of venom from a black widow spider bite at the Australian Open "wasn't the prettiest thing I've ever done."
Holmqvist, of Sweden, said she felt a sharp stab in her ankle at the fourth hole of the Royal Canberra Golf Club Tuesday, and when she looked down she saw a large, black creature with a red spot on its back just above her sock, Golf Digest reported.
"When I told the local caddies in my group what had happened, they got very upset and said it was a black widow, and immediately started looking for their phones to call the medics," Holmqvist said.
Holmqvist said as her leg began to swell, she pulled a tee out of her pocket to cut open the wound and then squeezed out the spider venom and keep it from spreading to the rest of her body.
"A clear fluid came out," she said. "It wasn't the prettiest thing I've ever done, but I had to get as much of it out of me as possible."
After being checked out by an official, Holmqvist decided to play on in the competition, although she was in severe pain.
"It still hurts," she said. "I don't recommend getting bitten by a black widow."
Holmqvist was eliminated from the tournament after finishing the round with a 74.
