19th Hole
Tour caddie shoots 202 in U.S. Am qualifier and gets DQ’d after the event
There may be a 2.4 handicap index limit to enter a U.S. Am qualifier, but that didn’t prevent one player from running up an astronomical score of 202 at the event at Mayacoo Lakes C.C. on Monday – before it was revealed the player had been disqualified for “failing to play in the spirit of the game.”
Korn Ferry Tour player Justin Hueber tweeted out the card of the player in question and showed a scorecard of a player who shot a 194 total – equating to 123-over par.
Despite Hueber’s attempts to blur out the name of the player in question, it was found to be Trey Bilardello, better known for being a professional caddie most recently for Matt Every, and it turns out that the 194 total was, in fact, a 202.
Speaking to GolfDigest, Darin Green, director of rules & competitions for the Florida State Golf Association, revealed how a glitch in the online scoring system prevents numbers greater than 19 posted on any hole being submitted, but failed to elaborate on just how a player with a 2.2 handicap, according to the latest GHIN revision, could shoot such a total, stating “The 202 was the score given to us and signed.”
On Tuesday afternoon Bilardello’s story became even more intriguing when the FSGA decided to reverse its original decision and disqualify Bilardello after the event had ended.
“Serious misconduct and failing to play in the spirit of the game” was the reason for the disqualification according to Beth Major, USGA senior director of championship communications, who was speaking to Golf Digest.
Per the report, Bilardello began deliberately missing shots, especially around the green, and as he was within the first group at the event, his pace held up the rest of the field. Speaking on the incident, Major stated
“His disqualification was deemed appropriate as a result of the individual’s failure to show consideration for other players—deliberately playing away from the hole to run up his score.”
Speaking to Golf Channel, Bilardello’s playing competitor, Kristian Fortis, disclosed how the Tour caddie started off normal but quickly went downhill.
“After the first nine, he said that he wanted to shoot the highest recorded score in USGA history. He just did not care. He was really rude to a lot of the officials, too. Something was off.
“He would chip shots and scoot his ball around on the tee box just to add strokes, and then he would just pipe a 2-iron down the middle of the fairway, hit it on the green and then just scoot his ball around again with his putter. He’d be right next to the hole and then I guess he’d think to himself that he didn’t have enough strokes and he’d hit his ball in the opposite direction of the hole.”
Bilardello’s past involves an arrest in 2014 in Royal Palm Beach, Fla, on a charge of first-degree domestic battery by strangulation, and he has been accused of “cheating the ballot to win” by an online commentator in a “Caddie for a Day” contest for Ken Duke. Per GolfDigest’s report, Bilardello was suspended from the Minor League Golf Tour for damaging golf course property during one of the events.
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19th Hole
“Is it a Titleist?” – Jerry Seinfeld shares never-before-heard details of iconic scene
On Thursday, legendary comedian Jerry Seinfeld joined the Rich Eisen Show and shared an awesome story from a “Seinfeld” episode titled “The Marine Biologist.”
In the episode, a golf ball goes into the blow hole of a whale. According to Seinfeld, that was never in the episode’s script.
Seinfeld recalls saying the night before the filming of the episode, “What if what puts the whale in distress is Kramer’s golf ball?”
“He’s hitting golf balls at the beach. George is at the beach with a girl, we haven’t connected them!”
“We write that speech the night before at two o’clock in the morning…The sea was angry that day my friend.”
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Kramer finishes the iconic scene by asking “Is it a Titleist?” Seinfeld told Eisen the show sought Titleist’s permission to mention its name, saying the ball had to be a Titleist. Fortunately for lovers of the iconic show, the company agreed.
If (somehow) you’re unfamiliar with the scene, check it out below.
More from the 19th Hole
- Phil Mickelson drops big retirement hint; Says LIV will grow the game “on a much more global basis”
- 2-time major champ announces shock retirement from the sport at age of 33
- Tiger explains why golf has “negative connotations” for daughter Sam
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19th Hole
Phil Mickelson drops big retirement hint; Says LIV will grow the game ‘on a much more global basis’
While speaking with Bloomberg, golf legend Phil Mickelson acknowledged that he is inching close towards retirement.
“I’m 53 now,” Phil said, “and my career, you know, it’s — if I’m being truthful, it’s on — it’s — it’s — I’m a — it’s towards its end.”
Mickelson added that one of his focuses now is helping other young players.
“Now, I would like to help others find the same enjoyment and fulfillment that the game has provided me. I’d like them to experience that as well.”
The six-time major champion credited LIV with reaching new markets in golf to help it grow.
“I think that’s exciting for everyone involved in the game because we are going to reach markets that we didn’t reach before. I think it’s going to inspire more golf courses, inspire more manufacturers selling clubs and equipment, but also inspiring young kids to try to play golf professionally. I just see that the game of golf is going to grow on a much more global basis because of the excitement and the presence that LIV Golf has.”
Mickelson is playing at this week’s LIV Singapore and shot a first round 72 (+1).
More from the 19th Hole
- The wild reason why Mark Wahlberg was initially denied entry to an Australian golf club
- 2-time major champ announces shock retirement from the sport at age of 33
- Edoardo Molinari reveals the latest PGA Tour golfer to turn down ‘good offer’ from LIV Golf
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19th Hole
Tiger explains why golf has ‘negative connotations’ for daughter Sam
While Tiger Woods’ son, Charlie, has certainly inherited his father’s love for golf, his daughter, Sam, has not.
On Wednesday, Tiger made an appearance on The Today Show with Carson Daly and explained his daughter’s relationship with golf.
“Golf has negative connotations for her. When she was growing up, golf took daddy away from her. I had to pack, I had to leave, and I was gone for weeks. So, there were negative connotations to it.
“We developed our own relationship and our own rapport outside of golf. We do things that doesn’t involve golf. Meanwhile, my son and I, everything we do is golf related.”
The nine-minute interview touches on plenty of other subjects, such as Tiger’s relationship with his late father, Earl.
It’s arguably the most open we’ve seen the 15-time major champion in an interview and is most definitely worth watching.
Tiger Woods sits down with Carson Daly to talk about golf, growing up in Southern California, his father and his new apparel line, Sun Day Red. pic.twitter.com/2TFbSNxzxq
— TODAY (@TODAYshow) May 1, 2024
More from the 19th Hole
- The wild reason why Mark Wahlberg was initially denied entry to an Australian golf club
- 2-time major champ announces shock retirement from the sport at age of 33
- Edoardo Molinari reveals the latest PGA Tour golfer to turn down ‘good offer’ from LIV Golf
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