Garrick Higgo’s former caddie has officially found himself a new home after a major PGA Championship controversy.
Higgo arrived just seconds late to his tee time for the first round at the PGA Championship, earning himself a two-stroke penalty and going on to miss the cut at the second major because of it.
Higgo said his caddie, Austin Gaugert, was yelling at him to get to the tee. But Higgo didn’t complete the task and split with Gaugert following the incident, after the golf world questioned how being late was possible at Aronimink Golf Club.
Gaugert, though, was seen on the bag for Dylan Wu during the opening round of the Charles Schwab Challenge at Colonial Country Club, just two PGA Tour events after the PGA Championship.
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Gaugert has previously worked with Ryan Moore, Patrick Rodgers, and Alex Noren, among others, and he has developed a reputation as a trusted veteran presence on the bag, as he and two-time PGA Tour winner Higgo just didn’t work out.
Gaugert was on the bag while Higgo won the Corales Puntacana Championship in 2025. But following the PGA Championship incident, Higgo has turned to Nick Cavendish-Pell as his caddie.
“Obviously, this is the first time it’s happened,” said Higgo on the PGA Tour penalty. “I wasn’t sure quite what. I was just happy they allowed me to tee off, firstly, you know what I mean? I was bummed when he said I had a two-shot penalty.”
Higgo said he knew the penalty was coming.
Higgo missed the cut at the PGA Championship -Credit:Getty Images
“No, it wasn’t a surprise. I was late,” he said. “I mean, my caddie was yelling at me to get to the tee.”
Higgo missed the cut by just one stroke at Aronimink Golf Club after shooting rounds of 69 and 76 at the second major tournament.
He was frustrated at the incident and wanted to get clarification from officials after he was dealt the penalty.
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“I was just trying to get evidence,” said Higgo at the time.
“I feel like any of you would have done the same. It’s kind of — I was there on time, but the rule is, if you’re one second late, you’re late. So if you think about it, I was there on time, if you know what I mean.”
He continued: “If you know me, then you know I am very casual and laid back. But — I don’t know. I don’t want to be there ten minutes early. I know that five minutes is fine. I thought I had time. I was obviously too casual, yeah.”