Masters caddy banned for needing sandals - really !!

[Keith White]

Cant recall the player but one of the caddies has a medical condition which means he needs to wear sandals, so Augusta have said he can't caddy. That's really sad, the player suffers over a stupid rule.  Surely if there is a real medical reason they should allow the caddy to do his job in the spirit of the game?

[Crim]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/golf/article-2600230/Amateur-champion-Fitzpatrick-forced-new-caddie-Duncan-banned-Augusta-medical-condition.html

[David in FL]

It's the United States. I'm sure an ADA or some such suit will be forthcoming......

[Keith White]

Cheers Crim, and I have to agree with young Fitzpatricks reaction.

[Keith White]

It's the United States. I'm sure an ADA or some such suit will be forthcoming......

The US has shown us many great sporting moments and true fair play, I think somebody needs to drag Augusta from the dark ages, keep the traditions of golf but don't have rules that alienate you.  Talk about spoiling your image !!

[newtogolf]

What's the medical condition?  Hard to believe that if there was 2 feet of snow outside he'd be walking through the snow wearing sandals.

[Motley01]

Wow you've got to be kidding me? I know its their club, their rules, but come on man, the poor guy has bad feet. They should have made an exception.

I love the Masters, but some of their rules ruin the fun. Remember when Gary McCord made a comment about the greens being cut like bikini wax. They banned the poor guy for that one comment. I thought that was really gadamn stupid.

Then there was the guy that when Louis Oostazen dunked the double-eagle on the par 5 hole, and he tossed his ball to a fan. The bastards hunted him down and forced him to give them the ball, for the display case.

They do great things, like the drive, chip, putt thing. But in the same breath they do some really stupid crap that makes them look like the old rich white guys stuff club.

[iacas]

What's the medical condition?  Hard to believe that if there was 2 feet of snow outside he'd be walking through the snow wearing sandals.

Yeah. I haven't heard of a medical condition that requires wearing sandals.

Not saying there isn't one, but it seems unlikely.

And I don't know that the ADA applies, as the field of play is not a publicly accessible place (it's different than being a spectator). You probably couldn't hire a caddie that needed a wheelchair to get around.

[Rick Martin]

Quote:Fitzpatrick's Caddie:

~~'I told the TD (tournament director) he was pathetic and I hate the place,' he said. 'Apparently aesthetics are more important than people.'

Bad, bad, move. Not good words toward to the Lords of Augusta National. No more badges for that guy. Instant escort from the premises, I'm sure.

He could have something like plantar fasciitis needed a softer soled shoe of some sort. I can't imagine a sandal making a difference versus  soft running shoe (that's what was prescribed for Soldiers who I worked with).  I can't imagine carrying a 40-80 lbs golf bag up and down the hilly fairways of Augusta would be good for the guy if he needs to wear sandals.  He's banished like Gary McCord, no doubt.

[David in FL]

Bad, bad, move. Not good words toward to the Lords of Augusta National. No more badges for that guy. Instant escort from the premises, I'm sure.

Yeah. You can't say stuff that, no matter the provocation.

[Valleygolfer]

No word on that "condition". Maybe trench foot? I really can't see how sandals could be better than normal breathable sneakers. So many different types out there. Seems stubborn on both ends...

[boogielicious]

Cant recall the player but one of the caddies has a medical condition which means he needs to wear sandals, so Augusta have said he can't caddy. That's really sad, the player suffers over a stupid rule.  Surely if there is a real medical reason they should allow the caddy to do his job in the spirit of the game?

They do have some head scratchers in the name of "tradition."

I still hope the kid plays well.  I like when the amateur champions content.

[ScouseJohnny]

Typical mean-spirited and silly Daily Mail article - an overblown, poorly written account of a storm in a teacup, with the actual info coming from a Twitter post the caddie concerned released to the world in error (it seems the poor bloke thought he was sharing his private thoughts on the tournament director's decision with a friend, not the world at large). The Daily Mail and Twitter - two dumb things the world would be better off without, in my opinion.

[Spitfisher]

Yeah. I haven't heard of a medical condition that requires wearing sandals.

Not saying there isn't one, but it seems unlikely.

And I don't know that the ADA applies, as the field of play is not a publicly accessible place (it's different than being a spectator). You probably couldn't hire a caddie that needed a wheelchair to get around.

Actually there are may medical conditions, some of which require non restrictive and non enclosed footwear such as sandals or slides. For some with diabetes it is a requirement.

As far as Augusta being inflexible on allowing or disallowing....Its easier just to say NO under any circumstance, than it is to monitor it. Its their club, their rules.

[boogielicious]

Typical mean-spirited and silly Daily Mail article - an overblown, poorly written account of a storm in a teacup, with the actual info coming from a Twitter post the caddie concerned released to the world in error (it seems the poor bloke thought he was sharing his private thoughts on the tournament director's decision with a friend, not the world at large). The Daily Mail and Twitter - two dumb things the world would be better off without, in my opinion.

The Daily Mail is still in mourning since Michael Jackson died.  Now they can't have "Jocko" headlines everyday.

[TJBam]

What's the medical condition?  Hard to believe that if there was 2 feet of snow outside he'd be walking through the snow wearing sandals.

Only thing I can think of is Athlete's foot.  In which case sunlight exposure along with your prescribed medicine is recommended -- as opposed to the dark moist sock which would help the fungus grow.  But heck if you've got athlete's foot I'd hardly call that a medical condition.  And if you have athlete's foot, you wouldn't want to have galleries upon galleries of people (notice I didn't say mob!) glaring at your nasty fungus toenails while you're walking around at the Masters.

Maybe the caddy just forgot shoes and tried to play it off.  How funny would that be.

[joekelly]

Gotta wonder if players are under some footwear, or clothing, restrictions at Aug?  Old Sam Snead advised practicing barefoot though i never heard of him competing without shoes. And i could imagine some shoe colors and styles might upset some folks of a highly conservative bent. I'm glad Augusta is over for the year, it's good golf but the entire scene is getting to be more of a clown circus.

[MS256]

They don't allow sandals on the course where I work. They claim it's to eliminate chemical exposure. I don't buy that because they don't have a rule against licking your balls.

The first time we played there my wife had a brand new pair of sandal golf shoes. On the way to the course she said she couldn't wait to play in her new shoes.

When they told her she couldn't go on the course with them I never felt more sorry for her in my life.

I work there now and I still think it's a BS rule but nothing I can do about it.