American Harris English may be without caddie Eric Larson for next week's Open Championship at Royal Portrush after the bag man was denied entry to the UK.English, the world number 19 golfer, said a letter is "sitting on someone's desk at the government somewhere" after the decision to stop Larson from travelling because of a drug conviction more than 30 years ago.

Larson said he didn’t realize he needed the ETA visa until the U.S. Open, and when he filled out the form he was denied. Grounds for refusal include an applicant who has been convicted of a criminal offense in the U.K. or overseas for which they served 12 months or more in prison.

Harris English is in the United Kingdom for two big weeks without his caddie. The U.K. has a new Electronic Travel Authority visa that now applies for Americans.