South African golfer Garrick Higgo has fired his caddy, Austin Gaugert, after Higgo was late for his tee time in Thursday's opening round of the PGA Championship, suffering a two-stroke penalty. Higgo recovered to shoot a one-under 69, but struggled on Friday, carding a 76 and missing the cut by one stroke.
Higgo was combative after the round, claiming that he was on time because he was on the practice green adjacent to the first tee, then claimed the whole incident was no big deal, refusing responsibility for being late, then blamed Gaugert, saying “My caddie dropped my TrackMan in the locker and I went to the putting green thinking I still had five minutes. I hit one putt and then heard my name being called. My caddie was yelling at me and I ran down and got a two-shot penalty.”
Media reports then circulated with video, showing Gaugert on two occasions imploring Higgo to get off the green and to the tee.
My take: Best thing to ever happen to Gaugert. You don't want to be saddled with a player who refuses to accept accountability, beyond his casual personality. The proof is the second-round 76. Higgo wasn't so upset he changed caddies after shooting 67 on his ball Thursday, but once he imploded on Friday, Gaugert suddenly became expendable.
THE ASYLUM
Higgo cans caddie
South African golfer Garrick Higgo has fired his caddy, Austin Gaugert, after Higgo was late for his tee time in Thursday's opening round of the PGA Championship, suffering a two-stroke penalty. Higgo recovered to shoot a one-under 69, but struggled on Friday, carding a 76 and missing the cut by one stroke.
Higgo was combative after the round, claiming that he was on time because he was on the practice green adjacent to the first tee, then claimed the whole incident was no big deal, refusing responsibility for being late, then blamed Gaugert, saying “My caddie dropped my TrackMan in the locker and I went to the putting green thinking I still had five minutes. I hit one putt and then heard my name being called. My caddie was yelling at me and I ran down and got a two-shot penalty.”
Media reports then circulated with video, showing Gaugert on two occasions imploring Higgo to get off the green and to the tee.
My take: Best thing to ever happen to Gaugert. You don't want to be saddled with a player who refuses to accept accountability, beyond his casual personality. The proof is the second-round 76. Higgo wasn't so upset he changed caddies after shooting 67 on his ball Thursday, but once he imploded on Friday, Gaugert suddenly became expendable.
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