Caddie Whack in practice area before Australian Open start
The crowd was treated to a bit of brawling on Thursday morning before the putting began at the Australian Open.
The tournament’s organizers have not named anyone yet, but rumour has it that caddies Matt Kelly and Grant Buchanan dusted-up before the play which was a continuation of a stand-off at the Star casino earlier that Tuesday.
Matt Kelly is Marc Leishman’s caddie and Grant Buchanan is the bagman for James Nitties. The fight was violent enough that the two had to be pulled apart from what the media have catch-phrased as ‘Caddie Whack’.
The Australasian PGA Tour has condemned the whole incident in a press conference release, calling it an unfortunate event unbecoming of professional golfing tradition. An investigation into the matter is already underway.
"On Thursday a physical altercation took place between two caddies just prior to their groups taking to the golf course," said Tournament Director Andrew Langford-Jones said in a prepared statement.
"PGA Tour of Australasia officials met the caddies and their respective players immediately after their round to clarify details of the altercation.
"Having spoken with those involved, there is still a need to speak with a number of other individuals who may be able to provide further information on the incident".
The players gave mixed responses to the incident. Buchanan, after the incident, said that Kelly was given to taunting Nitties’ inability to win a US PGA Tour.
Leishman has taken a clear stand backing his bagman. "I don't think me or Matty have got anything to worry about," Leishman said. "Kelly didn't do anything. He stood there, copped what he got. I was proud of him, to be honest".
Despite the disturbance, Leishman displayed respectable golfing, even-parring the first round, and hoping the weather would relent, eyes a stronger second.
Nitties stated the incident caught him off-guard. He said that he did not have the faintest idea about what had happened, and appeared to be unbiased towards the whole situation.
He did deny that any clash based on class existed between the veterans of the US PGA Tour and the would-bes.
"I didn't think so ... everyone usually gets on great," he said.
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