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Garrick Higgo, who was penalized two strokes for missing his tee time in the first round of the PGA Championship last week, has reportedly separated from his caddy.
Higgo has 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 Cup Byron Nelson.
The two strokes Higgo penalized were incredibly costly, as he missed the cut by one stroke. The 29-year-old shot a 1-under 69 on Thursday after falling behind, but then shot a 76 on Friday.
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Garrick Higgo of South Africa rounds the 16th hole with caddy Austin Gaugert during the first round of the PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club in Newtown, Pennsylvania, May 14, 2026. (Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
Higgo said on an ESPN broadcast that he was “on time, but late.”
“So the rules, if you’re one second late, you’re late. I was obviously there on time, but late, and it’s a two-shot penalty, and you have five minutes from there until you’re disqualified,” Higgo began. “Obviously it’s unfortunate. I usually cut it well. It was cold this morning, I was trying to stay as warm as possible coming out of the range. Yeah, I think it shows a lot of mental toughness the way I kept fighting, and it wasn’t going to affect my swing or my putting.”
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Garrick Higgo of South Africa tees 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’s like that. 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 in the clouds like that. It just is what it is. I don’t know what else to do.”
Gaugert was Higgo’s caddy when he won the 2025 Corales Puntacana Championship. Cavendish-Pell caddyed 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 reach the top 25 in the rankings. Higgo hopes that changing carts and arriving on time can help him get back on track.
