Berlin: Australian golfer Robert Allenby sacked his caddie after a dispute halfway through the first round of the Canadian Open.
A 61-year-old spectator then offered his services and completed the round with Allenby, who then withdrew after carding a nine-over-par 81.
Allenby, 44, and caddie Mick Meddlemo argued after a club selection on his ninth hole when on the advice of the caddie he used an 8-iron instead of the 7-iron he had favoured. The ball missed the target and ended up in a creek with Allenby making a triple bogey.
Allenby told SCOREGolf.com disagreements with his caddie had become a common occurrence and he had told him he had not been a help.
“He just lost the plot at me,” Allenby said. “He got right in my face as if he wanted to just beat me up. I said, ‘Stop being a such-and-such and calm down and get back into the game.’ And he just got even closer and closer and I just said, ‘That’s it, you’re sacked.’ I said, ‘I will never have you caddie again.’”
Allenby carried his bag for his 10th hole on the first tee and then accepted an offer from spectator Tom Fraser, a 61-year-old school principal, to caddy for the final nine holes.
After completing his round Thursday, Allenby pulled out, telling SCOREgolf: “My nerves have been rattled. I’m in shock. This is the worst incident I’ve ever witnessed as a player.”
