Alejandro Tosti's caddie walked off the job in the middle of a PGA Tour round Thursday. Somehow, the golfer apparently did not realize he had quit.
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The bizarre scene unfolded during the opening round of the Biltmore Championship Asheville at The Cliffs at Walnut Cove in North Carolina.
Cliff Ellis, who has worked with Tosti intermittently in recent years, reportedly dropped the golf bag, removed his caddie bib and left while the pair played the 18th hole, their ninth of the day.
According to Golfweek, Tosti initially thought Ellis had gone to the bathroom. He soon discovered his caddie was not coming back.
The two had reportedly experienced friction since Tuesday's practice round. Tosti nevertheless joked about Ellis' departure when contacted by Golfweek.
"He couldn't keep up with eight pars in a row," the 30-year-old golfer wrote in a text accompanied by several laughing emojis.
Tosti completed the round with a 1-over 72, leaving him outside the projected cut line.
This was not his first caddie-related controversy.
Tosti was suspended from the Korn Ferry Tour in 2023 for conduct unbecoming a professional following an expletive-filled confrontation with caddie Ray Yoel. Another Korn Ferry player previously described the fiery Argentinian as a "Dr. Jekyll, Mr. Hyde type."
Tosti has acknowledged struggling to control his emotions during competition.
"It's been the challenge for me my whole life, dealing with myself," he told Golfweek in 2024.
Earlier in 2026, Tosti received attention for having his caddie wear a customized bib reading "NEED A WIFE" at the Valspar Championship. That message referred to Tosti's search for a partner.
This time, the caddie decided he needed a new golfer.
