PGA Tour Star Harris English’s Caddie Denied UK Entry Over Past Drug Conviction

Harris English, ranked No. 19 in the world, faces the possibility of competing at the upcoming Open Championship at Royal Portrush without his longtime caddie Eric Larson, who has been denied a UK Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) visa due to a drug conviction from 30 years ago. Larson, who served over 10 years in prison for sending cocaine, applied for an exemption and a standard six-month visa but has yet to receive approval, with multiple support letters sent from the US Ambassador to the UK, the R&A, the PGA Tour, and a US charity. English expressed frustration at the bureaucratic delay, noting the conviction was decades ago and Larson has maintained a law-abiding life since his release in 2006. The new UK ETA visa rules deny entry to applicants with convictions involving 12 months or more of imprisonment, which directly impacts Larson's eligibility. Meanwhile, English has made contingency plans, using a different caddie, Joe Etter, for the Scottish Open and will likely continue without Larson for the Open if the visa issue is not resolved. The situation highlights the challenges faced by those with past convictions under evolving international travel regulations.