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Garrick Higgo, who was penalized two strokes for missing his tee time for the first round of the PGA Championship last week, reportedly became separated from his caddie.
Higgo parted ways with Austin Gaugert and hired Nick Cavendish-Pell, according to Golfweek. Higgo has worked with Cavendish-Pell in the past and will reunite with him for the CJ Byron Nelson Cup.
The two hits Higgo was penalized for were incredibly costly, as he missed the cut by one hit. The 29-year-old shot a 1-under 69 on Thursday after arriving late, but then shot a 76 on Friday.
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Garrick Higgo of South Africa walks the 16th hole with caddy Austin Gaugert during the first round of the PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club in Newtown, Pennsylvania, on May 14, 2026. (Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
Higgo said during an ESPN broadcast that he arrived “on time, but late.”
“So the rules, if you’re one second late, you’re late. Obviously I was on time, but late, and that’s a two-shot penalty, and you have five minutes from then until you’re disqualified,” Higgo began. “Obviously, it’s unfortunate. I usually do well. It was cold this morning, I was trying to stay as warm as possible coming off the course. Yeah, I think it shows a lot of mental strength the way I kept fighting, and it wasn’t going to affect my swing or my putter.”
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Garrick Higgo of South Africa comes off the second tee during the second round of the 2026 Zurich Classic of New Orleans at TPC Louisiana on April 24, 2026 in Avondale, Louisiana. (Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
“It is what it is. My caddy was on the tee box. I didn’t have my watch on me. I didn’t have my phone. I’m already kind of on cloud nine. It just is what it is. I don’t know what else to do.”
Gaugert caddied for Higgo when he won the 2025 Corales Puntacana Championship. Cavendish-Pell caddied for Higgo when he won the 2021 Palmetto Championship, his first tournament victory.
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Garrick Higgo of South Africa reacts on the 15th hole during the first round of the 2026 RBC Heritage at Harbor Town Golf Links on April 16, 2026 in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. (Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
The South African golfer has made five of 13 cuts this season and has yet to crack the top 25 in the rankings. Higgo hopes that changing caddies and arriving on time will help him get back on track.
