Higgo Parts Ways with Caddie After Costly Tee Time Disaster at US PGA

A Two-Stroke Penalty That Changed Everything

Look, we've all been late for something important in our lives. A job interview, a flight, maybe a first date. But showing up late to your tee time at a major championship? That's the kind of nightmare scenario that keeps professional golfers up at night.

For Garrick Higgo, that nightmare became reality at Aronimink last week during the US PGA Championship, and now it's cost caddie Austin Gaugert his job.

The 27-year-old South African has officially parted ways with Gaugert following a two-stroke penalty for tardiness during the opening round. According to tournament officials, Higgo was "not within the area defined as the starting point at his starting time" — official speak for you weren't on the tee when you should have been.

The Painful Math

Here's what makes this particularly gut-wrenching: Higgo finished his first round at Aronimink in what would have been 67 strokes. That score would have tied him for the lead. Instead, with the two-stroke penalty tacked on, he carded a 69.

The damage didn't stop there. Higgo went on to miss the cut by a single shot. One shot. The same margin as that penalty.

Broadcast footage from the tournament captured the chaos unfolding in real-time, with Gaugert visibly calling for Higgo to hurry up from the practice green to the first tee. It was already too late.

After his round, Higgo was refreshingly honest about the situation. "It wasn't a surprise. I was late. I mean, my caddie was yelling at me to get to the tee," he said. The two-time PGA Tour winner was later seen in the clubhouse discussing his case with the PGA of America, but officials held firm — the penalty stood.

Back to What Worked Before

In the aftermath, Higgo's agent confirmed to Golfweek that the South African has re-hired his former caddie Nick Cavendish-Pell. This isn't just any reunion — Cavendish-Pell was on the bag when Higgo captured his first PGA Tour title at the 2021 Palmetto Championship.

The timing of the move is aggressive. Cavendish-Pell will join Higgo's camp immediately for the CJ Cup Byron Nelson in Texas this week. There's no gradual transition here, no time to ease back into a working rhythm. It's straight to work at TPC Craig Ranch.

For Higgo, who has two PGA Tour victories and three DP World Tour wins to his name, this is clearly about getting back to a partnership that produced results. When you've just experienced one of the most embarrassing moments of your professional career, you reach for what's familiar, what's proven.

Meanwhile, at the Top of the Leaderboard

While Higgo was packing his bags and making personnel changes, England's Aaron Rai was making history. Rai went on to win the US PGA Championship, becoming the first Englishman to hoist the Wanamaker Trophy in 107 years.

It's a stark reminder of how thin the margins are in professional golf. One caddie calling for you to hurry, one moment of lost focus on the practice green, and suddenly you're watching the conclusion of a major from somewhere other than the golf course.

The Caddie-Player Relationship

This split raises interesting questions about the dynamics between tour players and their caddies. Ultimately, it's the player's responsibility to be on the tee on time. But caddies are paid to manage logistics, to keep their player on schedule, to handle the details so the golfer can focus on the golf.

When those details slip through the cracks at the worst possible moment, someone usually pays the price. In this case, it was Gaugert.

Whether that's fair is a conversation for golf's message boards and podcasts. What's clear is that Higgo has made his decision and is moving forward.

Key Takeaways

• Costly mistake: Higgo's two-stroke penalty for tardiness turned a potential 67 into a 69, and he missed the cut by one shot
• Immediate action: Caddie Austin Gaugert is out, former looper Nick Cavendish-Pell is back on the bag
• Proven partnership: Cavendish-Pell was with Higgo for his breakthrough 2021 Palmetto Championship victory
• No time to wait: The reunited duo will compete together at the CJ Cup Byron Nelson this week