It Doesn’t Make Any Sense”: Harris English’s Caddie Banned From U.K. Over 30-Year-Old Conviction
By USA NEWS TODAY| PGA Tour Stories | July 2025
Eric Larson should’ve been walking alongside Harris English on the lush fairways of Royal Portrush this week. Instead, he's watching the Open Championship from thousands of miles away — benched, not by injury or retirement, but by a 30-year-old felony conviction that has come back to haunt him in the most critical moment of his career.
Larson, a veteran caddie and a respected figure in the PGA Tour community, was denied entry into the U.K. under new Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) rules that apply to American travelers. His offense? A federal drug conviction from three decades ago — a past he’s long moved on from, and one he thought the world had too.
“It doesn’t make any sense,” Larson told The Palm Beach Post. “I’ve caddied in the British Open and Ryder Cup in the U.K. 10 times since getting out of prison. I just want to be there to help Harris.”
A Career Rebuilt — and Then Halted
Larson’s story is one of rare redemption. After growing up around the Palm Beach golf scene, he caddied for legends like Ken Green and Mark Calcavecchia. But in the early ‘90s, a series of bad decisions led to a 13-year federal prison sentence for drug trafficking. He served his time. He rebuilt his life.
He came back to the Tour and quickly re-established himself, eventually joining forces with Anthony Kim, Jeff Overton, and since 2017, Harris English. Larson has caddied all three into the Ryder Cup as rookies — an impressive feat by any standard.
In 2007, he was on the bag when Calcavecchia won at Innisbrook. Just earlier this year, Larson helped guide English to a PGA Tour victory at Torrey Pines. Now ranked No. 19 in the world, English sits inside the U.S. Ryder Cup top 10 — right on the brink of another team berth.
These are critical weeks in English’s season. And Larson, who has been beside him through every high and low, is watching from a TV screen because of a decision that many in the golf world — and beyond — are struggling to understand.
“If Anyone Deserves a Second Chance, It’s Eric”
The denial has left players, fans, and advocacy groups shaking their heads. Harris English went as far as writing a personal recommendation letter to the U.K. government. So did the R&A, the PGA Tour, and Operation New Hope — a Jacksonville-based nonprofit that helps formerly incarcerated individuals re-enter society.
But the visa appeal was still denied. Not on the basis of conduct, but on technicality — Larson admitted to serving over 12 months in prison, a disclosure required on the ETA application. His attempt to obtain a standard visa also failed, with officials saying his case didn’t meet “exceptional or compassionate” grounds.
“If anybody deserves a second chance in life, it’s Eric,” said Kevin Gay, founder of Operation New Hope. “When you serve a sentence, there’s actually two. One in prison, and one for life. People don’t forget.”
Larson has spent the last decade actively supporting ONH, even raising money through charity events with signed caddie bibs and Ryder Cup memorabilia. His commitment off the course matches his excellence on it — something his peers and employers consistently praise.
A Question of Fairness
Perhaps what stings most is the inconsistency.
Larson was denied entry for a non-violent crime from the early ’90s, despite a spotless two-decade record since. Meanwhile, other players with serious convictions — including a former biker gang member and two-time major winner Ángel Cabrera — have been allowed to compete or enter the country.
“How long does this stay with him?” English asked the Associated Press. “He’s been exemplary the last 20 years.”
Larson echoed that frustration:
“I know I made a big mistake. But how long do I have to pay for that? If bringing attention to this can help someone else down the road, then maybe this happened for a reason.”
What’s Next?
At 64, Larson’s not thinking about retirement. He’s focused on doing his job — one that he’s turned into a second act of purpose and pride. He plans to keep fighting the decision, not just for himself, but for every person who’s served time, done the work to change, and still finds the door shut in their face.
For now, though, his only view of Royal Portrush is from a TV in Florida.
And for Harris English — trying to qualify for the Ryder Cup without his trusted partner — the absence is more than noticeable.
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