Harris English is preparing to tee it up at The Open, but his caddie Eric Larson has been denied entry to the UK due to a past drugs conviction, with the PGA pro working to get him to the tournament
Harris English has said it’s a work in progress to get his long-time caddie, Eric Larson, to the UK for The Open. The American golfer’s right-hand man is missing from the Genesis Scottish Open after being denied a visa due to a previous drug conviction.
Larson has been unable to secure a new Electronic Travel Authority visa for UK entry and has enlisted the help of a legal team, according to Associated Press. Visa rejections can occur if an individual has served 12 months or more in prison for a criminal offence either in the UK or abroad.
Larson, who admitted to distributing cocaine to friends, was jailed for over a decade three decades ago, reports the Daily Record.
Having assisted at three Ryder Cups and worked with English for eight years, Larson’s absence is keenly felt.
With the Renaissance tournament starting on Thursday, English told AP: “I guess the United Kingdom doesn’t look highly on his past. And, apparently, it’s a work in progress.”
English has reached out to Warren Stephens, the US ambassador to the UK, for support, revealing: “They wrote a letter. The R&A wrote a letter.
“The PGA Tour wrote a letter. A charity event Eric works for in the States wrote a letter.
“It’s not for a lack of effort. I think it could be sitting on someone’s desk at the government somewhere.
“It’s just a matter of the right people seeing it. I didn’t understand how complicated the process was.
“Someone could see this guy had something in his past 30 years ago, he’s been fine the last 20. How long does this stay with him?”
Having to improvise for lack of his usual caddie at Renaissance, English has roped in David Thompson’s bagman Joe Etter to step in.
But with Portrush lurking and Etter’s commitments there, English will have to find a new looper for The Open if he can’t secure Larson’s services.
He added: “Joe was my Plan B. Now we’re going to have to get a new Plan B.”
