Columns

Lucky for him, caddie has true friend on tour

Mark Calcavecchia stands by his caddie, and friend, Eric Larson.

By John Romano
Published March 12, 2007

PALM HARBOR - In the end, it was about two men. Two men sharing one embrace and two very different stories.

One called the weekend a fairy tale.

The other called it a dream fulfilled.

They were ostensibly talking about the same thing, but you knew they were coming at it from vastly different perspectives.

Mark Calcavecchia won the PODS Championship on Sunday, coming back from the worst first-round effort by a PGA winner in a decade. Magic, he called it.

Eric Larson was by his friend's side as a caddie on Sunday, coming back from the worst mistake of his life and an 11-year prison term. Lucky, he called it.

So there they were, standing on the 18th green on a perfect spring day, arms wrapped around each other with a lifetime's worth of history between them.

"He's got a big heart," Larson said of his old friend.

They met more than 20 years ago when they were both young, carefree and had dreams of living the big life. Calcavecchia was an emerging star on the PGA Tour, and Larson was running in the same circles with golf pro Ken Green.

A friendship was born that has lasted beyond anyone's expectation, including the two men involved.

While Calcavecchia was growing in stature on the tour, Larson was making ends meet as a caddie and a part-time dealer in cocaine. At the time, it was an easy way to make a little extra cash.

Larson knew someone who had access to drugs, and he knew someone else who was looking for a little cocaine. He was a middle man, Larson said. Not a user, not a dealer, just a guy facilitating a transaction.

The government saw it differently and Larson was indicted for dealing in 1993. He eventually pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 11 years in federal prison.

"You always know you could pay the price, but you never think you'll do that much time," Larson said. "It wasn't like I was going over to Colombia and bringing back plane loads full. I sold a few here and there to some friends. I was never a big-time player, but I guess you don't have to be.

"Unfortunately for me I was made out to be the leader of a conspiracy ... which I didn't feel I ever was. But it is what it is. I don't dwell on it."

From the very start, Larson said he was determined to make the best of the situation. No complaining. No self-pity. He has his bachelor's degree in business management, and he dreamed of starting over.

"I had no choice. Life goes on. You look at other people in their situations and you don't realize how fortunate you are," he said. "There were always tough times. My father passed away while I was in prison. My grandmother passed away. My great aunt and nephew were killed in a car accident. I never saw them again because I was locked up.

"But life has its ups and downs. You don't dwell on it, you move on and try to learn from it. Fortunately for me, I've had a great support group."

No one was more instrumental in that support group than Calcavecchia. Each time Larson was moved, he came around to visit. Florida. North Carolina. California. Four prisons in all, and Calcavecchia was the only friend to visit at every stop.

And when Larson was released 15 months ago, he was there to offer him a job as a caddie.

It isn't always easy. There are legal issues to deal with since Larson remains on federal probation. Calcavecchia's wife, Brenda, has to carry a cell phone at tournaments so the probation officer will be able to confirm Larson's whereabouts at any moment.

"Everybody pretty much knows where he has been and what he has been through. He is just loving life," Calcavecchia said. "I've never seen a guy, four nights in a row, eat a 48-ounce porterhouse. He said he never got food like this in the joint."

He also never got paydays like this. With Calcavecchia taking home $954,000 Sunday, Larson will likely get a check in the $90,000 range.

For a guy who has a part-time job doing grunt work around a country club in Palm Beach, the money will literally be a fresh start.

"I didn't work for 11 years and I've got nothing," Larson said. "So, yeah, obviously I could use this."

They will split up in a couple of weeks so Calcavecchia can help out another friend who needs work as a caddie, but he said the job will still be there for Larson in the future. For that, Larson says he will be forever grateful.

"It shows how much of a friend Mark has been to stay with me," Larson said. "My life is getting back in order. Everything I've worked hard on to get back in this position has paid off."

Magic, Calcavecchia called it.

Lucky, Larson said.

Looks like they're both right.

John Romano can be reached at (727) 893-8811.

[Last modified March 11, 2007, 23:56:02]