In January of this year, Australian golfer Robert Allenby was involved in a bizarre kidnapping story in Hawaii, where police say there was no evidence that his claims actually happened. While that's one of the weirder things to have happened in golf ever, it's unusual that a similarly weird incident happens within a few months - and the same golfer is involved again.
Allenby was playing in the RBC Canadian Open on the PGA Tour this week, when he got into a heated debate with his caddy on the course. Allenby and his caddy, Mick Meddlemo, got into a disagreement over which club he should hit on the par-5 13th hole.
Allenby eventually went with his caddy's advice and hit an 8-iron, instead of the 7-iron he wanted. Unfortunately Allenby's approach was short and ended up in a creek leading to a triple-bogey. Speaking to the media afterwards, Allenby was surprised at the actions of Middlemo:
He just lost the plot at me.
He got right in my face as if he wanted to just beat me up. I said, ‘Stop being a such-and-such and calm down and get back into the game.’ And he just got even closer and closer and I just said, ‘That’s it, you’re sacked.’ I said, ‘I will never have you caddy again.
Allenby still had nine holes to play at this stage, and after carrying his bags to the 10th tee, a spectator by the name of Tom Fraser decided to cheekily ask if he needed a caddy. To the 61-year-old's surprise, Allenby took him up on his offer, and Fraser carried the bag for the remaining nine holes.
Allenby struggled to a nine-over 81 score, with the majority of the damage done on the first nine holes. Allenby withdrew from the tournament after the round.
My nerves have been rattled. I’m in shock. This is the worst incident I’ve ever witnessed as a player.
