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topicnews · July 20, 2025

The Caddy of Harris English, Eric Larson, expresses a ban from Great Britain

The Caddy of Harris English, Eric Larson, expresses a ban from Great Britain


Craig dag
| Especially for the post

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  • The experienced Caddy Eric Larson was denied drugs due to a 30-year conviction, which prevented him from working at the open championship.
  • Since his release from prison, Larson has successfully traveled to Great Britain, including earlier Open Championships and Ryder Cups.
  • Despite the support of Harris English, R&A, the PGA Tour and Operation New Hope, Larson's Visa profession was rejected.
  • The situation raises questions about the fairness and consistency of visa applications, since other actors can compete with criminal records.

Eric Larson expected to walk on the Emerald Fairways of the Royal Portrush Golfs Club in Northern Ireland on Sunday and to play well in Golf's final Major and earn a coveted place in the US Ryder Cup team.

Instead, Larson, which Larson can reach in English, can receive a new visa for electronic travel authorities for trips to Great Britain via a television set – Larson could not receive a regulation that now applies to Americans. The rejection is that Larson from 30 years ago served more than 12 months in prison for a drug accusation and that it cost him in the British Open Championship this week and the Scottish Open of the past week (where English ended 22nd).

“It makes no sense because I was in Great Britain in the British Open and in the Ryder Cup in Great Britain since I left the prison,” said Larson in his house in Palm Beach Gardens last week. “I just want to be there to help Harris.”

Not much of this story makes sense. Larson moved to West Palm Beach in 1979, played for a year in the golf team of the Palm Beach State College, hoping to go to a four-year university and finally play on the PGA tour. He came to Bear Lakes Country Club and made a career after playing with Mark Calcavecchia and Ken Green to recognize their talent. “Well, maybe I can caddy for you,” he said.

Local caddy that costs on PGA tour: Eric Larson felt like a big winner

English from 1991 to 1994 for Green Cadded for Green and then worked for Calcavecchia when he won the BellSouth Classic in 1995. During his work for Green, Larson was charged by Tennessee for a conspiracy for the sale of cocaine in 1993. He was acquitted in this case, but was again charged with a case in Michigan.

He was not a large dealer or user, emphasizes Larson; He just tried to help some old friends and earn some money.

Since the drug had exceeded the national borders in the Michigan case, it became a federal fee. The judge came off hard: 13 years in the federal prison, five years of probation and a fine of $ 25,000.

Larson was his time and served in four different prisons while he made friends on the way with Tommy Chong (they remain close friends). Calcavecchia was the only one who visited Larson in all four prisons and promised him his old job when he got out.

Larson was released at the end of 2005 and began working in the Bear Lakes bag area during the probation, which was reduced to 20 months for good behavior so that he was previously able to return to his profession as a traveler Caddy. In 2007, Calcavecchia won the PGA Tour event in Innisbrook with Larson and took Larson a six-figure payment day and a new rental agreement.

Larson's success with Calcavecchia and Calcs upcoming future at the PGA Tour Champions – led to other options. Larson started Caddying for Anthony Kim (two PGA Tour winnings 2008-09), Jeff Overton (2010-2016) and 2017 English. Larson led all three to the Ryder Cup as rookies, a remarkable performance.

English, who won this year at Torrey Pines for her third title, is in 19th placeTH in the world and 10TH In the latest US Ryder Cup rating; The top six are automatic selections for Bethpage Black, while captain Keegan Bradley makes his six selection after the tour championship.

“These are two of the biggest tournaments of the year for us,” said Larson. “I can't believe I'm not there.”

At the US Open last month, Larson found that he needed a new ETA visa, but he was rejected because he replied to the application he had spent more than 12 months in prison. He applied for a regular visa, but was refused because he did not meet the criteria for “extraordinary” or “compassionate” reasons.

English said he turned to the ambassador in the UK, Warren Stephens, who brought him in contact with his chief of staff. Despite the recommendation letters of English, The R&A, PGA Tour and Operation New Hope, a non -profit organization in Jacksonville who has imprisoned the return of people to society, Larson's visa was rejected.

“If someone earns a second chance in life, it is Eric,” said Kevin Gay, founder and former CEO of Operation New Hope. “It breaks my heart to see what he is going through.”

Gay met Larson about five years ago through a high -ranking PGA Tour Media -Official (Doug Milne), and Larson became a strong supporter of ONH. He spoke in several fundraisers and brought Ryder Cup PIN flags and caddy bibs that were switched off.

“The openness and honesty that Eric showed when he spoke when he spoke was something that really came home,” said Gay, no stranger to Pro Golf (he worked on the PGA tour for two years and his father Tommy was the first chairman of the general in 1975).

“If you serve a punishment, there are actually two of you. Sentence No. 1 is the one you have served; sentence No. 2 is a lifelong sentence. People don't forget. You can never take enough skin from someone.”

English shared this feeling.

“Someone could see that this guy had something in his last 30 years, (but) in the past 20 years. How long does it stay with him?” English said the Associated Press last week.

In his reference letter, English wrote: “According to my best knowledge, he has been exemplary exemplary behavior on and next to the course in the last eight years. I am also aware that he has worked with a number of charity organizations, and he is a popular figure wherever we go.”

What some are confused is, while Larson's calling was rejected, the open field includes a player (Ryan Peak) who spent five years in an Australian prison because he was involved in a biker gang. And the two-time major champion Angel Cabrera will take part in the Senior Open in the next week, although he recently spent two years in an Argentine prison for domestic charges.

“I know that I made a big mistake,” said Larson, 64. “But how long do I have to pay for it? If I can help someone else by drawing attention to this situation, that's a good thing.”

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