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Cocaine Dealer Who Was In Jail With 'The Wolf Of Wall Street' Is Now A Ryder Cup Caddie

Cocaine Dealer Who Was In Jail With 'The Wolf Of Wall Street' Is Now A Ryder Cup Caddie

Eric Larson isn't just some golf anorak on hand to dish out a few cheeky tips to the pro, it turns out he's got a pretty wild backstory.

Max Sherry

Max Sherry

Eric Larson has been named as the caddie for Ryder Cup rookie Harris English.

But Larson isn't just any old golf anorak on hand to dish out a few cheeky tips to the pro, it turns out he's got a pretty wild backstory.

Eric Larson and Harris English.
PA

The 60-year-old actually spent ten years in jail after being convicted of cocaine dealing.

During his time behind bars, Larson also happened to strike up a friendship with a fellow inmate by the name of Jordan Belfort AKA 'The Wolf Of Wall Street'.

That's right, the stock broker whose fraudulent activities and crazy partying became so infamous that Hollywood directors were queuing up to make a blockbuster movie about him.

You'd think that Belfort's loose lifestyle and Larson's previous career path would surely indicate that the two had crossed paths at some point in their lives prior to getting pinched, but it's understood they had never met before and become good pals while together in the correctional institution.

Now, after serving his time for doing the crime, Larson is on an upward trajectory.

"It's the ultimate dream for me to caddie at a Ryder Cup in Wisconsin not far from where I grew up," he said.

"It has been an interesting life, and I've thought about writing a book. But who in the hell wants to read a book about a guy who's been to prison?"

Paramount Pictures

During the 90s, Larson was reportedly pretty deep into the cocaine business and was even distributing across state lines.

But in 1995, he was convicted of dealing and jailed for 13 years after a supplier "ratted on him" by giving Larson up to the FBI.

He was released three years early, spending a decade locked up for his actions.

"I did it for monetary purposes only. I didn't use it, and I never brought it out on Tour. Was I a major drug dealer? No. Did I drive fancy cars? No," Larson said.

"That doesn't make it any better. I violated the law and I deserved to be penalised. But I obviously wasn't happy with the sentence I got, I just wish it could have been less time so I could have gotten on with my life."

PA

Since his release, Larson has worked closely with former Open champion Mark Calacvavecchia and has caddied plenty of other big-name golfers.

In fact, newcomer English will be the third Ryder Cup rookie that Larson has caddied after successful stints with both Anthony Kim and John Overton.

"I respect his story," English said of Larson.

"Eric could have gone two different ways after going what he went through, and he chose probably the hardest way. That was to pick himself up and keep going and make himself something. He has obviously been through a lot in his life.

"There's nowhere I can put him on a golf course that's going to be in a worse spot than he was in 15 or so years ago."

Featured Image Credit: Paramount Pictures / PA

Topics: Golf news, Golf, Ryder Cup, Cocaine, Australia