Tosti left puzzled as caddie calls it quits mid-round
Alejandro Tosti was left stunned midway through the first round of the PGA Tour’s Biltmore Championship after his caddie called it quits and walked off the course.
Tosti was closing out the front nine at The Cliffs in Walnut Cove when his caddie Cliff Ellis abruptly took off his bib and left his bag, leaving him alone on the course.
Alejandro Tosti’s caddie Cliff Ellis storms off the course. PGA Tour
It was unclear what exactly caused Ellis to do so, but he and Tosti did look as though they had shared some tense words between each other in the build-up.
Tosti seemingly ignored his caddie’s actions at first and went on to sink a shot. He then was left stunned to see his caddie had not just gone to the bathroom.
The 30-year-old then looked to the gallery to find a new caddie, where he employed Patrick Talledo to replace Ellis, as per the PGA’s lists.
According to Golfweek, the Argentine and Ellis had also clashed heads during the practice rounds before the tournament had begun.
When asked by Golfweek via text about his caddie’s departure, Tosti joked that “he (Ellis) couldn’t keep up with eight pars in a row”.
Tosti has not hidden in the past that he has a reputation for being a fiery player that often arrives with new caddies at each tournament.
He was suspended in 2023 due to his unprofessional conduct at the Korn Ferry Tour playoffs. Two years later, he appeared to stage a protest against Australia’s Min Woo Lee over his pace of play at the Texas Children’s Houston Open.
At the end of the first round, Tosti shot one-over-par 72.
Max Greyserman and Eric Cole led at seven-under at the end of day one.
