LYTHAM ST. ANNES, England – Luke Donald is competing in the second round of the Open Championship without his familiar sidekick nearby.
Donald’s regular caddie, John McLaren, was given the day off as his wife was due to give birth to the couple’s first child.
The world’s No. 1-ranked player tweeted before his round: “New caddy (Gareth Lord) on the bag today as I’ve given Johnny the day off to welcome his 1st child into the world!! Gd luck Mr & Mrs McLaren.”
Lord isn’t new to carrying Donald’s bag. The usual caddie for Robert Karlsson, he filled in for McLaren at last year’s Children’s Network Miracle Classic, which Donald won, ensuring himself of the PGA Tour money title.
Karlsson withdrew from the tournament on Wednesday.
