When Graeme McDowell talked about the “carnage” that could ensue this week at the “fast and fiery,” burned-out Chambers Bay he did not mean it literally. He could have, though, since caddies for Henrik Stenson and Stephen Gallacher both fell and suffered injuries during practice rounds on Wednesday afternoon.
Chambers Bay has become a hazardous place for U.S. Open caddies
Henrik Stenson’s caddie needs a brace, Stephen Gallacher’s a stretcher, after falls at Chambers Bay.
Gareth Lord, who loops for Stenson, slipped as he was leaving the 16th tee box and fell on his wrist.
Stenson's caddie Gareth Lord just got fitted for a nice splint after sliding down the 16th hole. Won't be the last. pic.twitter.com/5Opdfiwb38
— Alex Miceli (@alexmiceli) June 17, 2015 Lord, who was fitted for a soft brace by an on-site physiotherapist, said he would be on the bag for Stenson’s 8:17 a.m. PT tee time. The status of Gallacher’s caddie was less certain, as Damian Moore required a stretcher to leave the course after reportedly spraining his ankle.
“It’s tricky out there. You’ve got to be careful,” Stenson, pointing to dry fescue, told Golfweek’s Jim McCabe. “You see that yellow grass laying down, it’s dangerous.”
Several players have noted how tough it will be to navigate the eight-mile links-style course that features 400 feet in elevation changes. They probably did not have physical injuries in mind, though Stenson, who saw a walking scorer go down earlier in the week, said golfers should be okay since they wore spikes. For reasons that must make sense to someone, caddies are forbidden to don similar footwear.
Golf Channel’s Todd Lewis reported Wednesday evening that golf agent Mac Barnhardt had a local caddie on retainer in case any of his players’ caddies suffered fates similar to Lord and Moore.
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