Garrick Higgo reportedly splits from caddie after PGA Championship penalty
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Garrick Higgo reportedly left his caddy after receiving a two-stroke penalty for missing the opening tee shot of the PGA Championship last week.
According to Golfweek, Higgo left Austin Gaugert and hired Nick Cavendish-Pell. Higgo has worked with Cavendish-Pell in the past and will reunite with him for the CJ Cup Byron Nelson.
The two strokes for which Higgo was penalized were incredibly costly as he missed the cut by one stroke. The 29-year-old shot a 1-under 69 on Thursday after a late lead, but shot a 76 on Friday.
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South African Garrick Higgo walks on the 16th hole with caddy Austin Gaugert during the first round of the PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club on May 14, 2026 in Newtown, Pennsylvania. (Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
Higgo said during an ESPN broadcast that it was “on time, but late.”
“So according to the rules, if you’re one second late, you’re late. Of course I was there on time, but I was late and that’s a two-shot penalty and you have five minutes from now until you get DQ’ed,” Higgo began. “Obviously it’s unfortunate. I usually cut well. It was cold this morning, I was trying to stay as warm as possible coming off the range. Yeah, I think the way I kept fighting shows a lot of mental strength and it wasn’t going to affect my swing or my stick.”
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South African Garrick Higgo strikes out the second inning during the second round of the Zurich Classic New Orleans 2026 at TPC Louisiana on April 24, 2026 in Avondale, Louisiana. (Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
“It is. It was on my Caddy’s t-shirt box. I didn’t have my watch with me. I didn’t have my phone. I’m a little in the clouds anyway. That’s right. I don’t know what else to do.”
Gaugert was Higgo’s caddy when he won the 2025 Corales Puntacana Championship. Cavendish-Pell joined Higgo’s squad when he won the 2021 Palmetto Championship, his first tournament win.
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Garrick Higgo of South Africa reacts to the 15th hole during the first round of the RBC Heritage 2026 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 changing assistants and being on time can help him get back on track.
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