Mere days following his punctuality issue for a starting time at Aronimink, Garrick Higgo has parted ways with his golf bag carrier.
Reports from Golfweek’s Adam Schupak indicate that Higgo concluded his professional relationship with caddie Austin Gaugert this past Monday. He subsequently brought on Nick Cavendish-Pell, a former collaborator. Cavendish-Pell is slated to carry for Higgo at the upcoming CJ Cup Byron Nelson event in Dallas.
Though no specific justification was provided for the separation, and such changes are commonplace in professional golf, this particular move occurred shortly after Higgo received a penalty for tardiness during the inaugural round of the PGA Championship.
On Thursday, Higgo’s delayed arrival at the first tee box of Aronimink Golf Club for the major’s initial round incurred a two-stroke penalty. He was only behind schedule by sixty seconds, yet video footage captured Gaugert urging Higgo to hasten from the designated teeing area.
A delay exceeding five minutes would have led to his disqualification from the competition.
Following his round, he admitted, “I incurred a delay.” He further added, “My caddie was instructing me loudly to proceed to the tee.”
Higgo concluded the first round with a score of three strokes under par; however, the imposed penalty adjusted his daily total to one stroke under par, placing him two strokes behind the then-leader. He did not advance past Friday’s cut, though he would have comfortably qualified for the later rounds without the aforementioned penalty.
Subsequent to his play, Higgo sought a discussion with event management, requesting clarification while simultaneously conceding his delay yet asserting his simultaneous adherence to the schedule.
He stated, “I arrived punctually, but the regulation dictates that even a single second of tardiness constitutes being late.” Pressed for further detail, he clarified, “My presence was recorded at precisely 7:18 and 30 seconds.”
Throughout his professional tenure on the PGA Tour, Higgo has claimed victory on two occasions, with his most recent triumph occurring at the Corales Puntacana Championship during the previous season. The golfer, aged 27, has successfully advanced past the cut in five out of his thirteen competitions this season and holds the 94th position in the Official World Golf Rankings.
