Rare caddie rules blunder ends U.S. Mid-Amateur match in playoff

One of the most back-and-forth, competitive duels of the opening round of match play at the 44th U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship ultimately ended without either player hitting a shot.

Ryan O’Rear and Paul Mitzel both advanced through the stroke-play portion of the U.S. Mid-Amateur — O’Rear was one shot shy of co-medalist honors — and they were paired against each other for the Round of 64 match-play portion on Monday at Troon Country Club in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Mitzel, who is from Seattle, was 1 down early but won the 3rd, 4th and 5th holes to go 2 up after five. That was the biggest lead of the rollercoaster match, which Mitzel later tied with a birdie on the par-5 17th. They both made par on 18 to force extra holes.

They played the par-4 1st and tied with pars, but the match ended on the next hole, the par-4 2nd — and neither player hit a shot.

Mitzel’s caddie rode in a golf cart from the 19th green to the 20th tee, which led to a loss of hole (and, ultimately, the match) per Model Local Rule G-6. The rule states: “During a round, a player or caddie must not ride on any form of motorized transportation except as authorized or later approved by the Committee. … If the breach occurs between the play of two holes, it applies to the next hole.”

According to Golf Channel’s Brentley Romine, who spoke to Mitzel after the incident, the walking rules official called the penalty. Mitzel’s opponent, O’Rear, asked if he could veto the ruling to continue the match but the request was denied.

Mitzel told Golf Channel that after the 19th-hole tie, his caddie put the flagstick in and was then asked by a shuttle driver if he wanted a ride up the hill to the next tee. That same driver had just finished shuttling the players from the 18th hole to the 1st tee for the playoff.

“My caddie doesn’t deserve any fault,” Mitzel told Golf Channel. “He’s the man and an awesome friend. I’d do the same thing in his shoes. We were having so much fun, it’s too bad.”

O’Rear, who is from Georgetown, Texas, advanced to the Round of 32, which continues on Tuesday.

While a loss of hole (and match) like this one is rare, it has happened before in high-level tournaments. Back in 2023, six players were penalized for taking unauthorized shuttle rides from a green to a tee box at the Korn Ferry Tour’s Lecom Suncoast Classic.