PGA Tour Golfer's Caddie Who Quit Mid-Round Explains Reason for Dramatic Split

During the PGA Tour's Biltmore Championship in Asheville last week, fans witnessed a live breakup between a golfer and caddie.

Alejandro Tosti's caddie, Cliff Ellis, dropped his bag, removed his caddie bib and left on the 18th hole of the first round.

While the two reportedly had been at odds before the tournament started, Ellis gave a more in-depth answer as to why he left so suddenly.

According to MondayQ's Ryan French, Ellis had frustrations with Tosti regarding their financial arrangement, but there was also tension with how Ellis was treated on the course and in practice.

Ellis told French that during the Charles Schwab Challenge, Tosti instructed him, "Don't do anything unless I tell you," but became angry and used the F-word multiple times when Ellis didn't immediately pull the flag on the 14th hole.

At the Rocket Classic in Detroit, Ellis said Tosti "went crazy" multiple times during the first round. He said Tosti slammed his clubs on the ground and hit penalty-area stakes in anger. Ellis added that Tosti at one point threw his bag and nearly hit him, though Ellis clarified that he didn't believe the throw was targeted towards him.

According to French, Ellis said a PGA Tour official warned Tosti that he could be suspended if he had another outburst like the one he had in Detroit.

Ellis said issues arose between him and Tosti once again in Asheville last week, specifically noting that he faced criticism for where he placed Tosti's bag.

"Are you going to make me walk to the locker room for my clubs?" Ellis recalled Tosti saying.

After a few missed shots during the first round, Ellis said he encouraged Tosti to let the previous mistakes go and focus on the ones ahead. Tosti confronted him about it on the next tee.

"Don't do that again, or I'll get really angry," Ellis recalled Tosti saying. Tosti countered by telling French that he felt Ellis was "fired up" and gave him a fist bump.

Later on, after a back-and-forth about Ellis including an umbrella in the golf bag, Ellis said Tosti repeatedly called him a "dumbass."

The boiling point was on the 18th hole, where Ellis threatened to drop the bag multiple times without receiving much of a response from Tosti. Ultimately, Ellis decided he was done and told Tosti, "Good luck," as he made his way to the parking lot.