Caddy banned from Scottish Open due to drug conviction

For most American golf pros, the weeks surrounding the Open Championship are the only ones of the year that they spend in Europe. Harris English now has to do so without his caddy Eric Larson. The current ninth-placed player in the FedEx Cup will play the Scottish Open as preparation for the last major of the year and then compete in the Open Championship. Larson, on the other hand, will, as things stand, have to watch at home. The "Looper" was denied a visa for Great Britain because he was sentenced to more than ten years in prison 30 years ago.

At the time, Larson had pleaded guilty to sending cocaine within the USA. He served ten years and three months before being released in 2006. Mark Calcavecchia signed him up for his bag and things quickly took off for the caddy. In 2008 he was already at the Ryder Cup alongside Anthony Kim and two years later with Jeff Overton. He has been the "bagman" for English for eight years now.

Even the replacement caddie can only help for a short time

The UK Immigration Service lists prison sentences of more than twelve months among the possible reasons for refusing entry. "The UK doesn't seem to look too kindly on his (Eric Larson's) past," English told the press before the Scottish Open. In addition, Larson, the R&A, the PGA Tour and a charitable organization for which Larson works in the USA have written letters to the American ambassador in Great Britain, but so far without success.

English has therefore found a replacement for the Scottish Open for the time being. But there is already the next problem. Joe Etter, who will replace Larson for the time being, is otherwise Davis Thompson's caddie. Although he is skipping the Scottish Open, he has secured the last place for the Open Championship. This means that Etter is also only free for one week and English will have to improvise at the Open in Ireland. Unless, of course, the authorities relent and allow Larson to enter the country.