Dubai: Tributes have poured in for Dubai-based caddie Maximilian Zechmann, who died of a heart attack during the first round of the Omega Dubai Ladies Masters at Emirates Golf Course on Wednesday.
The 56-year-old Austrian, who was caddying for French golfer Anne-Lise Caudal, collapsed on the 13th fairway. He was treated by paramedics who then transferred him by ambulance to hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.
Zechmann was a former men’s European Tour caddie who had wins with fellow Austrian Marcus Brier and German Marcel Siem.
He had retired and moved to Dubai two years ago, but still helped out on the bag at local events. He is survived by his wife Elinor and three sons Maximilian junior, Ryan and Marco.
Carly Booth, who was in Caudal’s group alongside Blair O’Neal, tweeted: “Tough start today for our group to experience something so horrendous. Thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of Max.”
Thomas Bjorn, who was named European Ryder Cup captain for 2018 on Tuesday, tweeted: “Dreadful news out of Dubai this morning. Thoughts are with loved ones and everyone involved.”
Paige Spiranac added via twitter: “Praying for the family and friends of the caddie. It just shows you that there’s so much more to life than a good or bad round.”
Organisers cancelled the day’s play out of respect and will resume the first round from where players left off on Wednesday. The tournament has been shortened to 54 holes with the cut now being made after the second round on Friday. The tournament will still end as planned on Saturday.
Players will partake in a minute’s silence on Thursday at the time of the caddies’ death, and wear black ribbons as a mark of respect.
Zechmann is the second caddie to die of a heart attack while working at a top-level professional tournament in the last two years.
Ian MacGregor, a 52-year-old from Zimbabwe, collapsed and died in the Madeira Islands Open in May 2014, while caddieing for Scotland’s Alastair Forsyth.
The men’s European Tour was criticised at the time for continuing play after McGregor’s death.
Ivan Khodabakhsh, chief executive officer of the Ladies European Tour, said cancelling play in this instance was the right thing to do. “I don’t think it was a difficult decision,” he said. “I will not comment on any other incidents. As soon as we understood it was serious we decided to suspend play. We don’t want the players to be traumatised and it was also out of respect for the person involved. I think the decision to suspend play was well received by players.
“Of course, I spoke to Anne-Lise, and without question, she was pretty shocked and shaken. She is surrounded by friends. It’s tragic to see somebody like that.”
This is also the second time in two years that Emirates Golf Club has experienced a fatality at a major event.
In January 2015, Indian amateur and former club captain Ashok Bakshi, aged 75, collapsed and died of a heart attack on the driving range ahead of the Omega Dubai Desert Classic Pro-Am.
Zechmann’s last post on Facebook was to mourn the death of another caddie, Argentinian Pedro Ramseyer, who died of a heart attack during the Alfred Dunhill Championships, where he was caddieing for Carlos Pigem, last week. He was found unresponsive in bed at the hotel.
To a comment that read: “RIP my good friend. That sky-high bar is getting busy,” Zechmann replied on Friday: “It’s enough now, you got enough guys on your team.”
