Golfer Harris English will be without his regular caddie, Eric Larson, at the upcoming British Open and Scottish Open. Larson has been denied an Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) visa, preventing his entry into the United Kingdom. This marks the second year in a row Larson has been unable to accompany English due to visa issues.
The ETA has been a requirement for American citizens traveling to the UK since January 2025. Larson's previous conviction for selling cocaine in 1995, for which he served over 10 years in prison and was released in 2006, is the stated reason for the denial. UK regulations stipulate that grounds for denying an ETA can include convictions resulting in 12 or more months of imprisonment.
English voiced his disappointment with the decision, stating that Larson has seemingly "still been punished for something he did a long time ago." He noted that Larson had "paid his price spending 10 years in prison" and has since "gotten his life turned around."
According to English, Larson was more prepared this year, hiring a lawyer and expediting his application. However, he was informed of the denial the day before his scheduled flight. Last year, Larson claimed he was unaware of the ETA requirement until a month before his planned travel, and his subsequent attempts to secure one were unsuccessful.
Despite Larson's absence at the 2025 Open, English achieved his best performance in the tournament, finishing second to Scottie Scheffler. The Scottish Open is scheduled to begin this week, followed by the British Open next week, which is the final major championship of the year.