A heated confrontation between PGA Tour veteran Robert Allenby and his caddie during Thursday's first round of the Canadian Open led to a contentious midround split, with Allenby having a fan jump in to caddie his last nine holes.
Allenby and his caddie, Mick Middlemo, had a discussion before his fourth shot on the par-5 13th hole at Glen Abbey Golf Club in Oakville, Ontario. According to golf.com, Allenby had wanted a 7-iron, but the discussion focused on the 8-iron for the shot, which was about 150 yards out.
Allenby's shot fell short of the hole and into a creek. He triple-bogeyed the hole.
"I said to him, 'You know this happens every week. This has happened for, like, the last three or four or five months. We keep making bad mistakes, and you're not helping me in these circumstances,'" said Allenby, 44, to ScoreGolf.com. "He just told me I could go 'eff ' myself."
While Middlemo confirmed most of Allenby's remarks, he disputed the initial conversation that led to the dispute.
"I just wished it had never gone this far. But he is again using the media to make himself look like the victim," Middlemo told ESPN.com, adding that Allenby used an expletive loud enough for people. "The discussion was only about waiting for the wind to die down and hit the 8-iron. The 7-iron was never discussed. Not once. He came up 10 meters short of the front of the green. ... He hit a bad shot."
Middlemo is the fourth caddie to walk off during a round while working for Allenby.
After Middlemo walked off the course, Allenby carried his own bag to the 18th green to speak with officials, and according to golf.com, that's when a fan offered his services.
Allenby said yes to the fan, Tom Fraser, a 61-year-old local school principal, allowing him to caddie for the last nine holes.
Allenby withdrew from the tournament after shooting a 9-over-par 81.
Tough debut
Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Aaron Nola was a tough-luck pitcher in his major league debut Tuesday night.
He allowed only a home run to opposing pitcher Nathan Karns in his six innings of work against the Tampa Bay Rays, then collected his first big league hit with a clean single to center field.
It should be a baseball Nola will want to have displayed on his mantle for all his friends and family to observe.
The only problem is he'll first have to acquire the baseball, which is currently being held for ransom by his new major league teammates.
Friendly thief
Former Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Bernard Berrian was the recent the victim of a burglary in Fresno, Calif. The suspect was one of the last people he expected to rip him off.
Berrian investigated the crime on his own before turning it over to Fresno police. The suspect was a longtime friend who was his teammate at Fresno State.
Surveillance cameras inside his home showed exactly what Berrian saw.
"I actually watched him doing it while he was doing it," said Berrian. "I could have actually spoke to him. I've got a microphone in there. I could have told him, 'I got you,' while he was doing it."
But instead, a shocked Berrian was speechless, watching the crime unfold, by a burglar he knew, who even brought cleaning supplies to wipe away the evidence.
"I was like, 'Wow, he is a real professional,' " Berrian said. " 'He takes a spray bottle with him to wipe off fingerprints and a towel.' "
QUIZ
How many victories does Robert Allenby have on the PGA Tour?
ANSWER
Four
Sports on 07/25/2015