MARK ELS, Sun City | Sunday
ISAAC Bereng, the caddy of Ulrich van den Berg, vowed on Saturday he would sue the Wanderers professional golfer for what he called ”racist” abuse.
Bereng, who was carrying the bag at the Dimension Data Pro-Am at Sun City, stormed off the golf course on Friday after the alleged altercation, which occurred after Van den Berg missed a 10-foot putt on the third hole.
The caddy, who is officially accredited with the Sunshine Tour and operates from Houghton Golf Club, claimed Van den Berg’s verbal taunts constituted a racial attack.
”He called me a fucking cunt and a motherfucker. He was a racist to me and for that I am going to sue him,” said Bereng, who has been carrying the bag for the past 24 years, since age 14.
”I did absolutely nothing to deserve this kind of treatment. I’ve caddied for Ulrich on and off for the past 10 years, when he was still an amateur, and he’s never behaved like that towards me.
”He made a birdie on hole two and when he missed that putt on three he just started to abuse me.
”After that, while we walking up the fourth fairway, he started shouting at me to walk faster, swearing at me all the while.
”So I just stopped right there. I gave him back his watch and his wallet and left him with his bag of clubs to do whatever he chose.
”I won’t take this abuse. I am going to sue him.”
The incident was brought to the attention of the Sunshine Tour after Friday’s second round and was under investigation Saturday.
The tournament director, Theo Manyama, said that Van den Berg was liable for a R2 000 fine if found guilty of a minor offence.
”However, if the misdemeanour proved more serious, Ulrich can be called before a disciplinary committee,” said Manyama.
”The committee has the power to suspend a golfer from playing.”
Van den Berg, a former national amateur champion, was fortunate to make the halfway cut on Friday.
He had opened with a competitive 68 on Thursday before crashing to a second round 77 left him on 1-over-par after 36 holes. – Sapa