Second PGA Tour caddie reaches breaking point and quits mid-tournament: news

Second PGA Tour Caddie Reaches Breaking Point and Quits Mid-Tournament: David Lipsky Split Highlights Growing Tension

Professional golf witnessed another dramatic on-course fallout after veteran caddie Darren Woolard parted ways with American golfer David Lipsky ahead of Sunday’s final round at the Baycurrent Classic in Japan. The sudden departure marks the second time in recent weeks that a PGA Tour caddie has reached a breaking point and walked away from a bag mid-tournament.

Inside the Split at the Baycurrent Classic

The incident took place at Yokohama Country Club, where Lipsky had carded a 3-under total heading into the weekend. Reports revealed that tensions boiled over following Saturday’s third round, prompting Woolard to inform Lipsky that he would not return for Sunday’s final 18 holes. A PGA Tour official confirmed the split on Sunday morning, with Lipsky employing a substitutebelieved to be his trainerto carry the bag for the final round.

A Troubling Trend Across the PGA Tour

Mid-tournament resignations by caddies are historically rare, yet this marks the second high-profile walking-off incident in a single month:

• Alejandro Tosti and Cliff Ellis: At the Biltmore Championship in September, looper Cliff Ellis dropped the bag and walked off midway through the opening round without completing his duties.

• David Lipsky and Darren Woolard: At the Baycurrent Classic, Woolard abruptly ended his partnership prior to Sunday’s tee time, leaving Lipsky scrambling for replacement bag assistance.

The mounting friction underscores the intense pressure and frayed interpersonal dynamics within professional golf’s high-stakes environments, where player-caddie partnerships can disintegrate under persistent strain.