Grillo Sets Pace at Canadian Open; Allenby Cans Caddie Mid-Round


Emiliano Grillo fired an 8-under 64 to take the 18-hole lead in the RBC Canadian Open. The $5.8 million PGA Tour event got underway Thursday at Glen Abbey Golf Club in Oakville, Ontario.

Grillo, a 22-year-old Argentine with one victory earlier this year on the PGA Tour Latinoamerica Tour, carded four birdies each on the front and back nines for a one-stroke edge over Americans Vaughn Taylor and Brian Harman.

Trailing Grillo by two are South African Tyrone Van Aswegen, and Americans Steve Wheatcroft, Erik Compton and amateur Ryan Ruffels.

Defending champion Tim Clark of South Africa opened with an even-par 72.

The shot of the first round was made by Australia's Jason Day, who holed out from 94 on the par-4 10th hole for an eagle.

The strangest incident of the day involved Robert Allenby, who fired his caddie midway through his round. Allenby, who's had several notable dust-ups over the years, claimed his caddie, Mick Meddlemo, and he got into a disagreement after Meddlemo had him hit an 8-iron, while Appleby wanted a 7-iron, on the approach to the par-5 13th green (his fourth hole of the day). The ball ended up in a creek, leading to a triple-bogey.

Allenby told PGATour.com that Meddlemo got belligerent after the two exchanged words over the club selection. "He got right in my face as if he wanted to just beat me up," the 44-year-old Aussie explained. "I said, 'Stop being a such-and-such and calm down and get back into the game.' And he just got even closer and closer and I just said, 'That's it, you're sacked.' I said, 'I will never have you caddie again.' "

After Meddlemo left the course, Allenby packed his own clubs, while donning the caddie's bib, before a gallery member, 61-year-old Tom Fraser, volunteered to help. "To my surprise he said, 'come on,' said Fraser.

Allenby birdied his first hole with Fraser on the bag, but ended up with an 81 and withdrew from the tournament. "My nerves have been rattled. I'm in shock," Allenby told SCOREGolf. "This is the worst incident I've ever witnessed as a player."

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