2015 RBC Canadian Open: Robert Allenby Fired Caddie

Robert Allenby fired caddie in the middle of the round after wrong club selection

It’s not everyday that a caddie is fired in the middle of a round, so when it does happen it gets top billing. Robert Allenby, who has had a strange 2015 which started with him getting mugged in Hawaii, went ahead and fired his caddie in the middle of the round.

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On the par 5 13th hole, Allenby wanted his 7-iron. Allenby’s caddie, Mick Meddlemo, suggested he use an 8-iron. Allenby went with Meddelmo’s suggestion and proceeded to hit his ball in a creek.

Allenby would triple-bogey that hole and go on to shoot a 9-over, 81 and announce he would be withdrawing from the tournament afterwards.

Allenby had this to say to SCOREgolf after his round:

"“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.” And he just lost the plot at me. He just told me I could go eff myself. And I said, ‘Look, you need to slow down. I mean just calm down.’ And then he just 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 caddie ever again.’ And we never spoke for the rest of the (first nine) and when we got to 18 we walked off and he said some smartass remark to me and I said, ‘You don’t deserve to be caddying out there.’ And he just got right in my face and threatened me so I said, ‘Go.’ So he left.”"

Allenby carried for a little bit until a gallery member offered to carry his bag. Tom Fraser, a school principal from Kingston, Ontario, asked if Allenby needed someone to carry his bag and Allenby gave him the reins.

"“I just said, ‘Hey Robert, just tell me what to do, where to stand,’ and he was really good about it and the other caddies (for Jon Curran and S.J. Park) were helpful about where to place the bag and where to stand and how to stay out of the sightlines and stuff like that.”"

A pretty wacky, and unexpected first round at the RBC Canadian Open.

Meanwhile, Emiliano Grillo leads after round one. Grillo shot a bogey-free 8-under, 64 to lead by one. Grillo was impressive on the greens as his Strokes Gained: Putting was a 4.419. Compare that to the field’s 0.003 and that’s why he leads after round one.

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Vaughan Taylor and Brian Harman are in a tie for 2nd as they shot 7-under 65’s. As you might expect, Harman hit just about every green and fairway. Harman hit 85% of fairways and 83% of greens.

The field has only hit 47% of fairways and 63% of greens.

Australian amateur Ryan Ruffels had an impressive day shooting a 6-under 66. He is in a tie for 4th place along with Steve Wheatcroft, Tyrone Van Aswegen, and Erik Compton.

Jason Day, Bubba Watson, Brooks Koepka, Jim Furyk, and Hunter Mahan shot 4-under 68’s to sit in a tie for 17th.

The top Canadians are Adam Svensson and David Hearn as they sit in a tie for 33rd at 3-under. They are tied with the likes of Matt Kuchar, J.B. Holmes, Steve Stricker.

The Canadian favorite heading into this week, Graham DeLaet, struggled as he shot an even-par 72 to sit in a tie for 88th. And the struggles continue for Graeme McDowell as he shot a 3-over 75.

Next: Patrick Reed in the mix at Omega European Masters

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