Garrick Higgo splits from caddie after costly two-stroke penalty for missing PGA Championship tee time: report

Garrick Higgo, who was penalized 2 strokes for missing his opening-round tee clip of the PGA Championship past week, has reportedly divided from his caddie.

Higgo divided with Austin Gaugert and hired Nick Cavendish-Pell, according to Golfweek. Higgo has worked with Cavendish-Pell successful the past and volition reunite with him for the CJ Cup Byron Nelson.

The 2 strokes Higgo was penalized were incredibly costly, arsenic helium missed the chopped by 1 stroke. The 29-year-old changeable a 1-under 69 connected Thursday aft being late, but past changeable a 76 connected Friday.

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Garrick Higgo of South Africa walks the 16th spread with caddie Austin Gaugert during the archetypal circular of the PGA Championship astatine Aronimink Golf Club successful Newtown, Pennsylvania, connected May 14, 2026. (Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

Higgo said during an ESPN broadcast that helium was "on time, but late."

"So the rules, if you're 1 2nd late, you're late. I was evidently determination connected time, but late, and that's a two-shot penalty, and you person 5 minutes from past until you are DQ'd," Higgo began. "Obviously, it's unfortunate. I usually chopped it fine. It was acold this morning, I was trying to enactment arsenic lukewarm arsenic imaginable coming disconnected from the range. Yeah, I deliberation it shows a batch of intelligence spot the mode I conscionable kept fighting, and it wasn't going to impact my plaything oregon my putter."

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Garrick Higgo of South Africa walks disconnected of the 2nd tee during the 2nd circular of the Zurich Classic of New Orleans 2026 astatine TPC Louisiana connected April 24, 2026 successful Avondale, Louisiana. (Stacy Revere/Getty Images)

"It is what it is. My caddie was connected the tee box. I didn't person my ticker connected me. I didn't person my phone. I'm already successful the clouds a small arsenic it is. It conscionable is what it is. I don't cognize what other to do."

Gaugert was Higgo’s caddie erstwhile helium won the 2025 Corales Puntacana Championship. Cavendish-Pell caddied for Higgo erstwhile helium won the 2021 Palmetto Championship, his archetypal tourney win.

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Garrick Higgo of South Africa reacts connected the 15th spread during the archetypal circular of the RBC Heritage 2026 astatine Harbour Town Golf Links connected April 16, 2026 successful Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. (Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

The South African golfer has made 5 of 13 cuts this season, and has not yet cracked the apical 25 connected the leaderboard. Higgo hopes that switching caddies and showing up connected clip tin assistance him get backmost connected track.

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