Trump Pardons Caddie Barred From British Open
Trump Pardons Caddie Barred From British Open
Anonymous
Key Points
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Justice Department records identify Larson’s case as a 1995 Western District of Michigan conviction for conspiracy to distribute cocaine. His sentence included 156 months in prison, five years of supervised release and a $25,000 fine.
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Larson’s caddie career resumed after his release when longtime friend and PGA golfer Mark Calcavecchia hired him; he later worked at Ryder Cups with Anthony Kim and Jeff Overton before joining English’s team.
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English, the PGA Tour and the R&A tried to secure an exemption for Larson after his U.K. travel authorization was denied, but those efforts did not prevent him from missing the 2025 Scottish Open and British Open.
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English welcomed the pardon, saying, “I’m just so pumped for Eric that he can have his rights back ... and travel to be by my side and work for me specifically at the Scottish Open and the British Open.”
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Larson said he shipped cocaine from Florida to friends in other states but insisted he was not a user or a major dealer; he served 10 years and three months in federal prison before entering a halfway house in 2006.
President Donald Trump granted a full pardon to Eric Larson, a caddie for PGA Tour golfer Harris English, clearing a 1995 federal cocaine conviction that barred him from entering the United Kingdom. Yahoo Sports reported that Larson served more than 10 years in prison and was released in 2006. The pardon, signed September 3, allows Larson to travel internationally and work at major British golf tournaments, including the Open Championship, where he missed competing in 2025 and 2026.
Larson's absence from the 2025 British Open cost him roughly $126,000 in caddie commission, based on a customary 7% share. The Sun reported that Trump called both Larson and English after the pardon was signed. However, the presidential pardon only restores Larson's U.S. rights — he still must obtain proper UK visa authorization to enter Britain.
A Three-Decade Criminal Conviction Blocked International Travel
Larson was convicted in the Western District of Michigan for conspiracy to distribute cocaine in 1995. Total Pro Sports noted his sentence included 156 months in federal prison, five years of supervised release, and a $25,000 fine. He served 10 years and three months before entering a halfway house in 2006. Larson admitted to shipping cocaine from Florida to friends in other states but denied being a major dealer or user.
The conviction haunted Larson for decades. When he applied for U.K. travel authorization to caddie at British tournaments, authorities rejected his application. AOL reported that even efforts by English, the PGA Tour, and the R&A to secure an exemption failed. Larson missed both the 2025 Scottish Open and the Open Championship as a result.
From Prison Release to PGA Tour Success
After his 2006 release, Larson's caddie career began when longtime friend Mark Calcavecchia hired him. He later worked at Ryder Cups with golfers Anthony Kim and Jeff Overton, building a reputation as a skilled caddie. In 2017, Larson joined Harris English's team, where he has remained ever since.
The partnership proved lucrative. At the 2025 Open Championship, English finished second — a result that would have earned Larson approximately $126,000 in caddie fees through his standard 7% commission. Missing that major tournament due to travel restrictions cost him significant income and limited his ability to support English at critical moments.
Trump's Pardon Opens Doors—But Not All of Them
Trump signed the pardon on September 3 after Larson applied for clemency earlier in the year. Total Pro Sports reported that Trump called both Larson and English personally following the decision. English expressed relief, saying he was "so pumped for Eric that he can have his rights back ... and travel to be by my side and work for me specifically at the Scottish Open and the British Open."
The presidential pardon restores Larson's civil rights in the United States but does not guarantee U.K. entry. He must still apply for and obtain proper British visa authorization. GB News noted that Labour's stricter visa rules made the travel restriction especially problematic for Larson's career. The pardon removes the legal barrier in America but leaves the door to Britain in Larson's hands.
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