Three years ago, when Bender was the caddie for Rocco Mediate, he found slugs on the cart path during a practice round at Kapalua and put some on the seat of Mickelson's cart as a joke. Little did he know that Lefty would be so engaged in conservation that he would sit down without seeing them.
Squish.
Mickelson promised he would get even, and he delivered in a big way after the third round at Firestone.
Bender, now working for Aaron Baddeley, came off the course Saturday and was promptly greeted by a police officer who told him he was under arrest for at outstanding warrant. Bender's face turned white, and before he knew what was happening, he was in the back seat of a squad car.
After the players signed their cards, Mickelson and Baddeley went over to check on him. Now, Bender was in a position of trying to explain why he had been arrested. He pleaded with the officer to explain the charge.
Illegal transportation of snails on a golf course.
Bender knew he had been had.
Mickelson got his revenge.
© The Canadian Press, 2007