CROMWELL, Conn. — Eric Larson has been caddying on the PGA Tour for more than 20 years, but he had an experience like no other in Sunday’s final round of the Travelers Championship.
Where to begin?
Watching his player, Harris English, make a 28-foot putt on the 72nd hole that gave him a one-shot lead?
Waiting on the range for 45 minutes to see if English would win outright or have a playoff against Kramer Hickok?
Getting into the playoff and going eight holes — eight holes! — before English finally made another birdie at No. 18 for his fourth career PGA Tour win and second of the year?
All the above?
“I’ve never had a guy make a birdie putt on the last hole to possibly win, let alone have an eight-hole playoff,” Larson said Monday as he was driving back to his Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, home. “I’ve never seen Harris get that animated.
“It was just incredible how well they played. Either one of them could have won it or lost it a couple times. How many times do you experience that emotion? I didn’t even realize it was eight holes. It seemed like Groundhog Day going back to 18 over and over.”
It’s been a good couple weeks for the English-Larson combination. English finished third in last week’s U.S. Open, and with the standard caddie payout of 8 percent (10 percent for a win), Larson has earned more than $200,000 in the last two weeks.
That financial windfall is something else the 60-year-old has never experienced in his two decades as a professional caddie.
“In our job, our financial situation can change overnight,” Larson said. “I obviously have a very good young player who has worked hard and I’m glad to see the results from his hard work pay off. I’m in a great situation.”
The victory has the 31-year-old English in position to become the third rookie to make the Ryder Cup with Larson as his caddie, joining Anthony Kim (2008) and Jeff Overton (2010). English moved into eighth place in the U.S. Ryder Cup team standings with the points ending Aug. 29. The top six automatically qualify for the Sept. 24-26 Ryder Cup with captain Steve Stricker making six choices.
“The Ryder Cup is where I want to play,” English said Sunday night. “I love Steve Stricker. That’s what I miss about playing golf at University of Georgia. I miss that team atmosphere, and that’s the pinnacle of our sport. … to represent your country and to play in probably one of the biggest tournaments in the world.
“I still need to keep playing well and keep showing Strick that I deserve to be on the team, but looking forward to having a chance, and we’ll see what happens.”
It’s unlikely any recent caddie has taken two rookies to the Ryder Cup, much less three. Asked about that prospect, Larson said, “It means I’ve been very fortunate to caddie for some good players.”
Yet there’s no doubt making it to the Ryder Cup at Whistling Straits in Kohler, Wisconsin, would be one of the biggest thrills of Larson’s lifetime. He grew up in Wisconsin before moving to South Florida in the late-1970s.
“That would be the ultimate dream for me to caddie at a Ryder Cup in Wisconsin not far from where I grew up,” Larson said. “You never know when you will caddie in the Ryder Cup for the last time.”
Larson’s story is one of perseverance, karma
He caddied for Ken Green and Mark Calcavecchia on the PGA Tour before he spent 10 years in federal prison (1995-2005) when he was caught mailing cocaine from South Florida to some buddies in Wisconsin. Larson said he never used drugs or sold them on tour, but he was given a harsh sentence because the cocaine crossed state lines.
Larson accepted his fate and counted the day until he, hopefully, could return to the PGA Tour. Calcavecchia, who visited Larson in all four prisons he was in, hired Larson after his release and they won a tournament together to get Larson back in the game.
“It would be remarkable if Eric gets three rookies in the Ryder Cup, but his story is also remarkable,” said longtime caddie and NBC announcer Jim “Bones” Mackay. “When you look at his back story, and you see how he owned his mistakes. Eric is one of the most kind, gentle persons on the PGA Tour. That’s why everyone loves him.”
Larson caddied for Kim and Overton before hooking up with English in 2017. Their 29-year age difference is like father-son, but their relationship is more like brothers.
“It’s about the perspective he brings,” English told the New York Post last week about Larson. “There’s nowhere I can put him on a golf course that’s going to be in a worse spot than he was in 15 years ago.
“I know he has my back and he’ll do anything for me, and I’ll do anything for him, too. That’s the kind of relationship you build with your caddie out here. You’re with him almost more than you’re with your wife, so you better respect him and like him and enjoy being around him.”
Eric Larson poses for a photo with his friend Tommy Chong. Photo courtesy of Eric Larson.
Not many people don’t enjoy being around the easygoing Larson, including comedian Tommy Chong. Larson met Chong in a California prison — sounds like one of Cheech & Chong’s old movies — and they have become good friends.
Life is good for Eric Larson these days. He is caddying for one of the world’s top golfers—English moved to No. 12 in the world ranking—and his bank account is flush. Imagine if Larson gets to add another Ryder Cup to his résumé.
“Eric is already the mayor in most towns because he is so popular,” Mackay said. “If he caddies at the Ryder Cup, he’ll be the governor of Wisconsin.”