Equipment
Forum Thread of the Day: “European Tour looking into an incident involving Matt Wallace and his caddie from the BMW International Open”
Today’s Forum Thread of the Day surrounds an incident involving Matt Wallace and his caddie, Dave McNeilly, which occurred on Sunday at the European Tour’s BMW International Open. After hitting a shot in the water on 18, Wallace appeared irate with his caddie, which incensed many of our members, as well as plenty of social media users.
According to bunkered.co.uk, the European Tour stated in an email to the publication that they are looking into the incident over allegations of abuse.
A limited number of clips of the incident have surfaced online.
Billy Foster doesn't look concerned. pic.twitter.com/TVbRjaADYz
— Ricky Bush (@thebushnews) June 25, 2019
I watched him play the 18th and this is the only dialogue with the caddie on my DVR pic.twitter.com/tbPXZReTmS
— Matt Sylla (@mattsylla) June 24, 2019
Here are a few posts from the thread, but make sure to check out the entire discussion and have your say at the link below.
- buckeyefl: “Sky Sports analyst Rich Beem: ‘I’m sorry, but I just don’t enjoy watching that. I know you’re intense but get over yourself.’”
- Steele47: “Just looked at Wallace’s twitter. He congratulates the winner Andrea Pavan and also noteworthy, makes a point to compliment Pavan’s caddie. LOL.”
- OldTomMorris: “It’s a pattern with Wallace that he goes after his caddy so often like this and golf commentators, analysts even fans have picked up on this. There has to be a base level of respect and decency; it appears that Wallace often falls short of that.”
- golfgirlrobin: “He’s getting roasted on his own Twitter account. People don’t seem that amused.”
Neal Shipley was the first to admit that he enjoyed his food while in college. But since his days at Ohio State, he’s slimmed down and earned a PGA Tour Card.
That hasn’t stopped him from having fun with his wedge stampings, though it’s led to some misunderstandings.
On the 54 (degree), we have ‘Big Fudge,'” Shipley told GolfWRX. “It was supposed to be ‘Big Fridge,’ so this happened a little while ago. ‘Big Fridge’ was a nickname between my college teammates and I, with ‘fridge’ meaning stomach, a big stomach.
“We told the Ping guys to put … ‘Big Fridge’ on it, and I think maybe some bad cell service or something, and they thought I said ‘fudge,’ so they put fudge on it.”
On Shipley’s 50-degree he also continues the food theme, this time with his go-to order at the “Golden Arches,” and his stamping “DONS 7.”
“The number 7 meal, the two cheeseburger meal, that was my McDonald’s order, back when I would have McDonald’s frequently,” Shipley shared.
At GolfWRX, we are a community of like-minded individuals who all experience and express our enjoyment of the game in many ways.
It’s that sense of community that drives day-to-day interactions in the forums on topics that range from best driver to what marker you use to mark your ball. It even allows us to share another thing we all love – buying and selling equipment.
Currently, in our GolfWRX buy/sell/trade (BST) forum, @raw10628 has a L.A.B. DF3 putter and Masters putter cover up for grabs.
From the listing: “Some great items here today, time to thin out and make room for next set of gear. All prices include shipping.
LAB DF3 Purple 33.5” 68° lie with TPT – $725. LAB Masters release DF3 cover – $150.”
To check out the full listing in our BST forum, head through the link. If you are curious about the rules to participate in the BST Forum, you can learn more here: GolfWRX BST Rules
Driver: Ping G440 LST (9 degrees)
Shaft: Accra TourZ Green 5-M4
3-wood: Ping G440 Max (15 degrees)
Shaft: Accra TourZ Green 6-M4
5-wood: Ping G440 Max (19 degrees @18)
Shaft: Accra TourZ Green 6-M4
Hybrid: Ping G440 (23 degrees)
Shaft: Oban Isawa Red Hybrid Shaft 04 Flex 70 Gms
Irons: Srixon ZXi7 (5-P)
Shafts: Aerotech SteelFiber Private Reserve i80
Wedges: Cleveland RTZ (50-MID, 54-FULL, 58-MID)
Shafts: Aerotech SteelFiber Private Reserve i105
Putter: L.A.B. Golf OZ.1i
Shaft: ACCRA Putter Shaft
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet
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HDTVMAN
Jun 26, 2019 at 4:37 pm
If you wear the Ping hat, you’re expected to act with respect to the game and others.
ski_co
Jun 26, 2019 at 2:56 pm
If the caddie told him it was 180 to cover the water and it was 200 I would understand. Otherwise the final decision on the shot is the players.
Unemployed Caddy
Jun 26, 2019 at 8:10 am
Looked like an A and B conversation. Why doesn’t everyone C their way out of it. It’s basically a husband and wife type of relationship, one of them can file for divorce or maybe they can go to couples counseling?? Why are we acting like caddies are so mistreated and incapable of making mistakes?? Can we stop protecting caddies as if they are children with abusive parents…
Sahil
Jun 26, 2019 at 6:56 am
I’ve noticed the caddy issue is becoming a noticeable issue.
Jordon Spieth was another example.
I’m sure there are tons of others which just gets swept under the carpet.
There are few questions I have, if @Golfwrx has some history on this.
My questions are:
When did the caddy become such a big part of the professional’s game plan?
To my knowledge, its the pro golfer pitting his skills against the course and other players.
It should not matter who caddies for the pro golfer. His own skills and decision making will shine through.
Now I see Jason Day hiring Steve Williams, and making Steve out to be this caddy / coach / mentor / father figure person when in reality, from what I see Jason’s been distracted by other issues off the course.
“when he says something, I do it” that was Jason’s statement.
Pro golfers have this huge team, a coach for putting, a coach for iron play, a coach for driving , a mental coach, a personal trainer, a golf specific personal trainer rather.
When they hit the ball straight in the bush then they blame the caddy.
As far as I’m concerned, the pro golfers are becoming a bunch of whiney, privileged babies.
The caddies are there to carry your clubs and take care of your clubs, the golfing is up to the pro golfer. Amateurs use of a good caddy can be useful, a skilled local caddy will have course knowledge, can help speed up play. Help the amateur golfer make better decisions and learn the game.
Golf is an individual sport. One pro going against other pro’s.
Sahil
Jun 26, 2019 at 6:48 am
http://www.golfwrx.com/563240/forum-thread-of-the-day-european-tour-looking-into-an-incident-involving-matt-wallace-and-his-caddie-from-the-bmw-international-open/?fbclid=IwAR1h_JQF8YyX6uOjdI_axhuh5EYtWLcAEv42qZRRVbnW_pI7ef4M1SKx5d0
Sahil
Jun 26, 2019 at 6:46 am
I’ve noticed the caddy issue is becoming a noticeable issue.
Jordon Spieth was another example.
I’m sure there are tons of others which just gets swept under the carpet.
There are few questions I have, if @Golfwrx has some history on this.
Wiki quote
“While the modern game of golf originated in 15th-century Scotland, the game’s ancient origins are unclear and much debated. Some historians trace the sport back to the Roman game of paganica, in which participants used a bent stick to hit a stuffed leather ball.”
My questions are:
When did the caddy become such a big part of the professional’s game plan?
To my knowledge, its the pro golfer pitting his skills against the course and other players.
It should not matter who caddies for the pro golfer. His own skills and decision making will shine through.
Now I see Jason Day hiring Steve Williams, and making Steve out to be this caddy / coach / mentor / father figure person when in reality, from what I see Jason’s been distracted by other issues off the course.
“when he says something, I do it” that was Jason’s statement.
Pro golfers have this huge team, a coach for putting, a coach for iron play, a coach for driving , a mental coach, a personal trainer, a golf specific personal trainer rather.
When they hit the ball straight in the bush then they blame the caddy.
As far as I’m concerned, the pro golfers are becoming a bunch of whiney, privileged babies.
The caddies are there to carry your clubs and take care of your clubs, the golfing is up to the pro golfer. Amateurs use of a good caddy can be useful, a skilled local caddy will have course knowledge, can help speed up play. Help the amateur golfer make better decisions and learn the game.
Golf is an individual sport. One pro going against other pro’s.
JThunder
Jun 25, 2019 at 10:45 pm
“If the caddie doesn’t like it, he can quit”
Ahh… the conservative answer to sweatshops, child labor and 80 hour work weeks!
ht
Jun 27, 2019 at 9:48 am
*looks for way to upvote this comment*
cg
Jun 25, 2019 at 8:44 pm
Mind our own business? He’s just emotional?. NO WAY! Quit excusing poor behavior! Wallace was a jerk. What possible thing could his caddy have done to cause him to duck hook his tee shot into the water? A caddy gives numbers and often makes suggestions but in the end, the player is responsible for every golf shot. These guys are playing for big money so the fan’s opinion absolutely do matter. Golf has always been a gentleman’s game. I saw the reaction myself Sunday and I was disgusted.
Johnny Penso
Jun 25, 2019 at 8:23 pm
“There has to be a base level of respect and decency; it appears that Wallace often falls short of that.” Get stuffed. That’s between the player and his caddie. If the caddie doesn’t like it he can quit. If the player doesn’t like it he can fire him. MYOB.
Dan
Jun 25, 2019 at 3:27 pm
The guys emotional and in the moment. It’s hard to win a tournament. If his caddy can’t handle it he can quit. People complain about players being robots but once they show negative emotions people crucify them.