Garrick Higgo splits with caddie days after PGA Championship penalty

Garrick Higgo has split with caddie Austin Gaugert just days after the South African’s controversial two-shot penalty for arriving late to his opening tee time at the PGA Championship at Aronimink.

The update was first confirmed by Golfweek, with Higgo’s agent revealing that Nick Cavendish-Pell will replace Gaugert on the bag at this week’s CJ Cup Byron Nelson at TPC Craig Ranch in Dallas. 

The timing of the split is significant given the events surrounding Higgo’s opening round at the PGA Championship last Thursday. 

Higgo was assessed a two-shot penalty after failing to arrive on time for his first-round tee slot, despite eventually recovering to post an impressive one-under-par 69.

Video footage from the incident showed Gaugert urging Higgo to hurry to the tee, but the pair failed to make it in time under PGA Championship rules.

Higgo later delivered one of the week’s most memorable press conferences when discussing the penalty.

“I wouldn’t have been late if I had known I was running late,” Higgo said, before adding: “I was there on time, but the rule is, if you’re one second late, you’re late.”

The penalty ultimately proved costly as Higgo followed his opening 69 with a second-round 76 and missed the cut by a single shot. 

Without the two-stroke punishment, he would have made the weekend.

While Higgo publicly addressed the incident, Gaugert remained silent on the matter. 

The American caddie had been on the bag for Higgo’s victory at the 2025 Corales Puntacana Championship.

He has previously worked with other PGA Tour players including Patrick Rodgers, Ryan Moore and Alex Noren.

Cavendish-Pell returns as a familiar face for Higgo. 

The pair previously worked together during Higgo’s breakthrough PGA Tour victory at the 2021 Palmetto Championship. 

Most recently, Cavendish-Pell had been caddying for French PGA Tour rookie Adrien Saddier.