Caddie Walks Off Mid-Round Leaving Tosti to Finish Alone

PGA Tour golfer Alejandro Tosti was left without a caddie midway through his opening round at the Biltmore Championship on Thursday after his looper, Cliff Ellis, abruptly walked off the course. The incident occurred on the 18th hole at The Cliffs at Walnut Cove in Asheville, North Carolina, which was the ninth hole of Tosti's round after he started on the back nine. Video footage from the event showed Ellis setting down Tosti's bag, removing his caddie bib, and leaving the fairway while the pair appeared to be in a heated discussion. Tosti initially believed Ellis had gone to use a restroom and continued toward the next tee without a caddie. He later discovered his looper had departed the course entirely. The 30-year-old Argentine was sitting at even par at the time, having made eight consecutive pars. He completed the round himself, signing for a 1-over-par 72. "He couldn't keep up with eight pars in a row," Tosti later texted to a reporter, adding laughing emojis. According to reports, there was already visible tension between Tosti and Ellis during practice rounds earlier in the week.