Golfer's Caddie Quits Mid-Round at Biltmore Championship

Alejandro Tosti's caddie, Cliff Ellis, quit and walked off the course mid-round during Thursday's opening round of the PGA Tour's Biltmore Championship Asheville. The incident occurred on the 18th hole, which was Tosti's ninth hole of the day.

Ellis reportedly dropped the bag, removed his caddie bib, and left the course. The pair had been experiencing tension since a practice round on Tuesday. Tosti, believing Ellis had gone to the bathroom, was surprised when he did not return.

Ellis told Golfweek via text, "He couldn’t keep up with eight pars in a row," adding multiple laughing emojis. Tosti finished the round with a 1-over-par 72, placing him in a tie for 99th.

This is not the first instance of Tosti having issues with caddies. In 2023, an expletive-laden incident with a previous caddie, Ray Yoel, resulted in a suspension from the Korn Ferry Tour for conduct unbecoming a professional. Earlier this year, Tosti gained attention for having his caddie wear a custom bib that read "NEED A WIFE" at the Valspar Championship, a reference to his personal life.

One Korn Ferry player described Tosti as a "Dr. Jekyll, Mr. Hyde type." Tosti himself has acknowledged his demeanor as an area for improvement, stating in 2024, "It’s been the challenge for me my whole life, dealing with myself."

Tosti is scheduled to tee off again on Friday afternoon. It remains unclear who will carry his clubs for the second round.