Garrick Higgo’s former caddie shouldered responsibility for a missed tee time penalty that proved costly at last week’s PGA Championship, saying he “fell short” of his duties.

Austin Gaugert was fired by Higgo on Monday.

Last Thursday at Aronimink Golf Club in Newtown Square, Pa., Higgo was one minute late for his first-round tee time and received a two-stroke penalty. The South African’s opening-round 67 instead became a 69 and he wound up missing the cut by a single stroke after carding a 76 on Friday.

Video from the first-round broadcast captured Gaugert calling for Higgo to hurry up from the practice green to the first tee.

Gaugert addressed the situation Wednesday on his Instagram account.

“I want to say something about the incident with Garrick Higgo being late to the tee on Thursday at the PGA Championship. As a caddie, you try to do everything you can to prepare your player for competition and I fell short of that,” he wrote.

“Garrick was understanding throughout the situation and handled it with professionalism and class. This has happened to players before and will again. Garrick handled a difficult situation with grace, and I wish him nothing but success moving forward.

“After working with Garrick and finding the highest success in caddying, Garrick has become a better friend to me than just a boss. I will always be grateful for that.”

Higgo, 27, is a two-time winner on the PGA Tour along with three victories on the DP World Tour. He’ll play this week’s CJ Cup Byron Nelson in Texas with caddie Nick Cavendish-Pell, who was on his bag in 2021 when he won his first PGA Tour title at the Palmetto Championship.

–Field Level Media