PGA Tour caddie struck, killed by car

SAN DIEGO - Steve Duplantis, one of the more popular caddies on the PGA Tour known for bringing out the best in players of various skills, was killed early Wednesday when he was struck by a taxi while crossing the street, the sheriff's office said.

Duplantis, 35, was working at the Buick Invitational for Eric Axley.

A spirit after hours and regarded among the best caddies inside the ropes, he previous won four times with Jim Furyk early in his career, Rich Beem at the Kemper Open and Tommy Armour III when he set the PGA Tour scoring record at the Texas Open in 2003.

Duplantis was in Del Mar when he stepped off a center median and into the path of a taxi, said Sgt. Randy Webb of the San Diego Sheriff's Department. He was pronounced dead on the scene.

Axley was not immediately available for comment, and several other players for whom Duplantis worked were playing the pro-am Wednesday at Torrey Pines.

But the mood was somber on the putting green where some caddies were waiting on their players.

"He was a throwback," caddie Patrick Smith said. "He raised the level of every player he worked for. He could take guys who were marginal and they would play well."

Duplantis and his nightlife exploits were prominently featured in a book titled, "Bud, Sweat and Tees," a story primarily about Beem.

"Regardless of his reputation, he was a great caddie and didn't have a bad bone in him," caddie Mark Chaney said.