PGA Tour Golfer's Caddie Quits Mid-Round in Bizarre Meltdown
Alejandro Tosti was left to carry his own golf bag after his caddie walked off the course during the first round of the Biltmore Championship in North Carolina.
PGA Tour golfer Alejandro Tosti was left to carry his own bag on Thursday after his caddie, Cliff Ellis, walked off the course midway through the first round of the Biltmore Championship in Asheville, North Carolina. The unusual incident occurred on the 18th hole of The Cliffs at Walnut Cove, which was Tosti's ninth hole of the day after starting on the 10th tee.
It remains unclear why Ellis decided to leave, but Tosti was at even par and having a successful round when the caddie departed. When asked for comment by GolfWeek, Tosti responded via text, "He couldn't keep up with eight pars in a row," accompanied by three laughing emojis. Tosti, an Argentine golfer, is known for his passionate demeanor on the tour and has reportedly had a number of caddies in recent years.
Despite the mid-round departure of his caddie, Tosti continued playing and finished the round with a score of one-over-par 72. He is currently tied for 103rd place in the tournament.
This is not the first time Tosti's relationship with a caddie has drawn attention. In 2023, he was reported to have used expletives towards his then-caddie Ray Yoel during a Korn Ferry Tour event. Earlier in 2026, at the Masters, Tosti had a custom message placed on his caddie's bib that read "NEED A WIFE," in an apparent attempt to find a partner in the crowd.
Tosti is currently ranked 186th in the FedEx Cup Fall standings. It is uncertain whether he will have secured a new caddie for the second round of the Biltmore Championship, where he is scheduled to tee off later on Friday.
Meanwhile, Irishman Seamus Power has taken the lead in the tournament after an early strong showing on Friday morning.