South African golfer Garrick Higgo has decided to part ways with his caddie after a frustrating week at the US PGA Championship ended with him missing the cut by just one shot.
The 27-year-old golfer struggled through a difficult tournament at Aronimink, where a costly two-shot penalty in the opening round became one of the biggest talking points of the week. Higgo arrived late to his Thursday tee time and was punished under tournament rules, even though he reached the starting area only moments after his scheduled start.
Even after the penalty, Higgo stayed calm and played a strong first round. He finished with a one-under-par 69, but without the two-shot penalty, he could have scored an excellent 67. For some time, he was even close to the top of the leaderboard.
However, the pressure of the situation appeared to catch up with him in the second round. Higgo struggled on Friday and finished with a 76, leaving him one stroke outside the cut line. Without the penalty from the opening day, he would have comfortably played the weekend.
Soon after the tournament ended, reports confirmed that Higgo had ended his partnership with caddie Austin Gaugert. The golfer has already brought back former caddie Nick Cavendish-Pell, a familiar face who worked with Higgo during some of the best moments of his career.
Interestingly, video footage from the first round showed Gaugert trying to rush Higgo toward the tee box before the penalty was given. Higgo himself later admitted the mistake was his responsibility and said his caddie had warned him about the time.
The incident became one of the biggest talking points of the tournament because it badly affected Higgo’s week. Many golf fans and experts said missing the cut not only cost him prize money and ranking points, but also hurt his confidence during an important part of the season.
Higgo now hopes the caddie change can help him reset mentally as he prepares for upcoming PGA Tour events. The South African already owns multiple professional victories and remains one of the talented young players capable of bouncing back quickly from disappointment.
