Caddie walks out on golfer in the middle of first round on PGA Tour - USA Today

In an unusual scene at the Biltmore Championship in Asheville, North Carolina, a PGA Tour caddie abruptly walked out on Argentine golfer Alejandro Tosti midway through his opening round on Thursday.

Cliff Ellis, who was carrying the bag for the 30-year-old Argentinian, stayed with Tosti for the first eight holes. However, by the time they reached No. 18—Tosti’s ninth hole of the day—Ellis disappeared.

Tosti initially assumed his caddie had left for a bathroom break, but Ellis never returned to the course. The reasons behind Ellis’s sudden departure remain unclear.

“He couldn’t keep up with eight pars in a row,” Tosti joked in a text to Golfweek’s Adam Schupak, ending his message with three laughing emojis.

Golfweek further reported that tensions had already surfaced between Tosti and Ellis earlier in the week. The pair reportedly struggled to find common ground during Tuesday’s practice round, though the specific cause of their rift has not been disclosed.

This is not the first time Tosti has found himself in the spotlight for conflicts with caddies or competitors. In 2023, he was suspended from the Korn Ferry Tour following a series of on-course behavioral incidents, and he has developed a reputation for frequently changing caddies throughout his career.

Despite the distraction, Tosti carded a one-over-par 72 in the opening round of the Biltmore Championship. He currently sits tied for 104th place, needing a strong performance in Friday's second round to climb the leaderboard and make the projected cut, which stands at three-under par.