Eric Larson, a former Palm Beach State College golfer, expected to be at Royal Portrush Golf Club in Ireland, helping his boss play well in golf’s final major.
Eric Larson expected to be spending Sunday walking along the emerald fairways of Royal Portrush Golf Club in Northern Ireland, helping his boss, Harris English, play well in golf’s final major and earn a coveted spot on the U.S. Ryder Cup team.
Instead, the closest Larson can get to English is through a TV set – Larson was unable to obtain a new Electronic Travel Authority visa for travel to the U.K., a regulation that now applies to Americans. The denial is because Larson served more than 12 months in jail for a drug charge from 30 years ago, costing him caddie opportunities in this week’s British Open Championship and last week’s Scottish Open (where English finished 22nd).
“It doesn’t make any sense because I’ve been to the U.K. 10 times to caddie in the British Open and the Ryder Cup since I got out of prison,” Larson said last week at his Palm Beach Gardens home. “I just want to be there to help Harris.”
Not much of this story makes sense. Larson moved to West Palm Beach in 1979, playing on the Palm Beach State College golf team for a year, hoping to go to a four-year university and eventually play on the PGA Tour. He joined Bear Lakes Country Club, and made a career pivot after playing with Mark Calcavecchia and Ken Green, recognizing their talent. “Well, maybe I can caddie for them,” he said.
English caddied for Green from 1991-94 and then worked for Calcavecchia when he won the 1995 BellSouth Classic. While working for Green, Larson was indicted in 1993 by Tennessee officials for conspiracy to sell cocaine. He was acquitted in that case, but was indicted again for a case in Michigan.
He wasn’t a big-time dealer or user, Larson insists; he was just trying to help some old friends and make some cash.
Because the drug in the Michigan case had crossed state lines, it became a federal charge. The judge came down hard: 13 years in federal prison, five years of probation and a $25,000 fine.
Larson did his time, serving at four different prisons while befriending Tommy Chong along the way (they remain close friends). Calcavecchia was the only one to visit Larson at all four prisons and promised him his old job when he got out.
Larson was released in late 2005 and started working in the Bear Lakes’ bag room during probation, which was reduced to 20 months for good behavior, so he could return to his profession as a traveling caddie sooner. In 2007, Calcavecchia, with Larson carrying his clubs, won the PGA Tour event at Innisbrook, netting Larson a six-figure payday and a new lease on life.
Larson’s success with Calcavecchia – and Calc’s impending future on the PGA Tour Champions – led to other opportunities. Larson started caddying for Anthony Kim (two PGA Tour wins together in 2008-09), Jeff Overton (2010-2016) and, in 2017, English. Larson has guided all three to the Ryder Cup as rookies, a notable achievement.
English, who won at Torrey Pines this year for their third title together, is ranked 19th in the world and 10th in the latest U.S. Ryder Cup standings; the top six are automatic selections for Bethpage Black, while captain Keegan Bradley makes his six selections after the Tour Championship.
“These are two of the biggest tournaments of the year for us,” Larson said. “I can’t believe I’m not there.”
At last month’s U.S. Open, Larson found out he needed a new ETA visa, but he was declined because he answered on the application he had spent more than 12 months in jail. He applied for a regular visa, but was denied because he didn’t meet criteria for “exceptional” or “compassionate” reasons.
English said he reached out to the ambassador for the UK, Warren Stephens, who put him in touch with his chief of staff. Despite having recommendation letters written by English, the R&A, the PGA Tour and Operation New Hope, a Jacksonville based nonprofit that assists incarcerated individuals’ return to society, Larson’s visa was rejected.
“If anybody deserves a second chance in life, it’s Eric,” said Kevin Gay, Operation New Hope’s founder and former CEO. “It breaks my heart to see what he’s going through.”
Gay met Larson through a senior PGA Tour media official (Doug Milne) about five years ago, and Larson became a strong supporter of ONH. He has spoken at several fund-raisers, bringing signed Ryder Cup pin flags and caddie bibs that were actioned off.
“The candor and honesty that Eric showed when he spoke was something that really hit home,” said Gay, no stranger to pro golf (he worked at the PGA Tour for two years and his father Tommy was the first general chairman of the Players in 1975).
“When you serve a sentence, there’s actually two of them. Sentence No. 1 is the one you served; sentence No. 2 is a lifetime sentence. People don’t forget. You can never take enough skin from someone.”
English shared that sentiment.
“Someone could see this guy had something in his past 30 years ago, (but) he’s been fine the last 20. How long does this stay with him?” English told the Associated Press last week.
In his reference letter, English wrote, “To the best of my knowledge and certainly since Eric has caddied for me for the last eight years, he has had exemplary conduct on and off the course. I am also aware that he has been involved with a number of charities, and he is a popular figure wherever we go.”
What perplexes some is while Larson’s appeal was rejected, the Open field includes a player (Ryan Peake) who spent five years in an Australian jail due to his involvement in a biker gang; and two-time major champion Angel Cabrera is entered in next week’s Senior Open even though he recently spent two years in an Argentinian jail for domestic charges.
“I know I made a big mistake,” said Larson, 64. “But how long do I have to pay for that? If I can help someone else by bringing attention to this situation, then that’s a good thing.”
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Harris English's caddie Eric Larson speaks out on ban from U.K.
Category: General Sports
