Stunned Baddeley wishing Bender the best

2008-04-11

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By Andrew BothPA SportsTicker Golf Writer

AUGUSTA, Georgia (Ticker) - Aaron Baddeley was shocked to findout recently that his caddie has cancer.

"He''s one of the healthiest guys you''ll ever meet," Baddeleysaid of Pete Bender, the highly respected bag man who haspreviously worked for the likes of Greg Norman and IanBaker-Finch.

Bender recently underwent some tests for a lump on his neck, andthe biopsy revealed cancer of the tonsils, which has spread tothe lymph nodes.

"It''s unbelievable what he''s going through," said Baddeley,speaking after falling 12 shots off the halfway lead at theMasters at Augusta National on Friday.

"He doesn''t want to talk much on the phone because he''s had histonsils out, and his throat''s really sore. They''re doingradiation for seven weeks and he should be fine after thathopefully."

Player-caddie relationships are often little more than businesspartnerships, but not in the case of Baddeley and Bender.

"Pete''s like an uncle," Baddeley said. "He cares for me like I''mhis nephew. He''s got a great heart and I''ve been real blessedto have him on the bag.

"He''s not afraid to tell you what he thinks, is probably thebest thing about him. He''s not afraid to stand by his decisions.And he works (hard). A lot of caddies don''t walk coursesanymore but he walks the golf course every Monday."

In Bender''s absence, Baddeley has rehired one of his oldloopers, New Zealander Anthony "Ant Man" Knight.

Bender has "won" two major championships, working for Norman(1986) and Baker-Finch (1991) when they won the British Open.

Baddeley''s hoping Bender will pick up a third major in the nearfuture.