ARDEN, NORTH CAROLINA – SEPTEMBER 17: Alejandro Tosti of Argentina applies sunscreen as he plays the 10th hole during the first round of the Biltmore Championship Asheville 2026 at The Cliffs at Walnut Cove on September 17, 2026 in Arden, North Carolina. (Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images)
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Midway through the opening round of the Biltmore Championship in Asheville, North Carolina, Alejandro Tosti was suddenly without a caddie after Cliff Ellis removed his bib and walked off the course following a verbal exchange.
Ellis, who has served as Tosti’s on-and-off caddie over the past several years, appeared to reach his breaking point as the pair made their way down a fairway. Video footage that surfaced from the incident showed Tosti and Ellis engaged in a tense argument before Ellis stopped, set the golf bag down, removed his caddie bibs and walked away.
Tosti was then forced to improvise, eventually asking a spectator from the gallery to step in and carry his bag for the remainder of the round.
Tosti went on to shoot an even-par 71, leaving him at 1-over for the tournament and outside the cut line.
The missed cut continued what has been a difficult 2026 season for the 30-year-old Argentine. Through 21 starts, Tosti has made just four cuts and has yet to record a top-25 finish. His best results of the season have been a pair of T-30 finishes at the ISCO Championship and the Valspar Championship.
Tosti has also experienced his share of controversy during his professional career. In 2023, he was suspended following a conduct-related incident, while the golfer has openly acknowledged that managing himself on the course has been an ongoing challenge.
“I’ve been dealing with myself my whole life,” Tosti told Golfweek in 2024, describing the mental side of golf as a challenge he has faced throughout his career.
The latest incident with Ellis adds another difficult moment to a season that has produced little momentum on the course.
Jeff is a founding member of Break80 Golf and a contributing golf writer for Forbes with PGA Tour media credentials. Reach out at break80podcast@gmail.com
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