Garrick Higgo’s coach blamed himself after the coach was penalized two strokes for arriving late last week in the first round of the PGA Championship.
Austin Gaugert posted his thoughts on Instagram on Wednesday. on monday, Golfweek’s Adam Schupak reported that Gaugert and Higgo split after the PGA, and at this week’s CJ Cup Byron Nelson event, Higgo is using Nick Cavendish-Pell as his player.
Below is Gaugert’s statement:
“I want to say something about the incident when Garrick Higgo arrived late on Thursday at the PGA Championship. As a caddy, you try to do everything you can to prepare your player for the tournament and I failed in that. Garrick understood the whole situation and handled it with great grace and class. This has happened to players before and it will happen again. Garrick handled a difficult situation with grace, and I wish him no luck.
“After working with Garrick and achieving the highest level of success in card making, Garrick has become a better friend than just a manager. I will always be grateful for that.”
Higgo’s late arrival penalty came in the first round of the PGA last Thursday. He was scheduled to depart at 7:18 am ET and arrive at 7:19, resulting in two strokes being added to his first hole score, per rule 5.3a of the Rules of Golf. If Higgo was more than five minutes late, he would be kicked out.
At tee time, Higgo was on the nearby practice green, and as Higgo walked to the tee, Gaugert appeared to beckon him to come. When Higgo did so, he was told about the penalty by the rules officer, and proceeded to shoot a one-under 69. The next day, Higgo shot 76 and missed.
After his first round, Higgo answered 15 questions about what happened.
“If you don’t know me, then you know that I am a free and open person,” said Higgo in his press conference. “But-I don’t know, I don’t want to be there with 10 minutes left. I know five minutes is fine. I thought I had time.
“Obviously I was uncomfortable, yes.”
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