SOUTHAMPTON, N.Y. — One a wild day at sun-drenched, seaside Sebonack Golf Club — high winds, strenuous pin placements and only one player under par in the third round — most everyone at the U.S. Women's Open was on edge from their first tee shot.
Disagreements between player and caddie were frequent as shot selection and the flight of the ball were up for debate on nearly every shot.
IN CHARGE: Inbee Park leads by four shots
LEADERBOARD: U.S. Women's Open
That was a burden for some more than others, and a shouting match between Jessica Korda and her caddie, Jason Gilroyed, ended up in an unusual dismissal.
Korda fired Gilroyed after nine holes and put her boyfriend, Johnny DelPrete, on the bag. Korda went on to bogey the 12th hole. She shot 40 on the front nine but came home with a 36 on the back for a 4-over-par 76.
She is tied for sixth, 11 shots behind Inbee Park, who was the only player to break par.
"We had a couple of disagreements here and there, and I wasn't in the right state of mind. I knew I needed to switch and just have a little bit more fun out there," Korda said. "It's a U.S. Open. It's tough out there. It just wasn't working out.
" … It was tough for me, because I care about Jason a lot. He is a great guy. That's just how it happens sometimes in life. That was one of those things today that it just unfolded. It was very hard for me to do. I'm not that type of person to take these things really easily. For me it was very hard to tell him that and it took a lot for me."
Gilroyed could not be reached for comment.
DelPrete was following Korda when he suddenly had a new job.
"I just told him, 'Johnny, grab the bag, let's go.' " Korda said.
Korda said she does not know if she will rehire Gilroyed. However, while her boyfriend will be on the bag for the final round, he will not become her regular caddie.
DelPrete plays professionally on the Web.com Tour.
"I think everybody has problems every week," Korda said. "You blame the caddie, the caddie blames you. It's just up in the air. I just felt like enough was enough today. I just wasn't mentally ready for it."
Korda's sister, Nelly, 14, was the youngest player to make the cut this week. There is little chance she will fire her caddie — it's her father, former tennis star Petr.
Nelly Korda shot 79.
PHOTOS: Saturday at the U.S. Women's Open
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