Erik Van Rooyen's Caddie Set To Play Alongside Him At The 3M Open

Erik van Rooyen's caddie, Alex Gaugert, will play alongside the South African golfer at the 3M Open this weekend after he qualified for the event on Monday. 

The American was one of four players to book their place in the tournament, posting a six-under par 65 to finish T2 at the Victory Links Golf club in Blaine, Minneapolis.

Daniel Gale was the outright winner, sensationally holing out from 128 yards on the 18th to end his day at -11 and qualify for the 3M Open for the second successive year. 

Meanwhile, Kaito Onishi and Noah Hoffman were the other two players to gain a spot at the tournament, posting scores of 65. 

Van Rooyen and Gaugert, meanwhile, have been close friends for some time, having both been team-mates at the University of Minnesota. 

The American has caddied for the European Tour winner since 2019, with the pair having had success at the Scandinavian Open that year, while more recently helping Van Rooyen produce multiple top ten finishes this season. 

And after Monday's result was confirmed, the South African golfer congratulated his caddie on Twitter saying: "So my caddie @lil_gaugs just qualified for the 3M Open! What a STUD!!! Soooooooo anyone want to loop this week @PGATour?!"

Gaugert, 30, enjoyed a successful college career securing multiple top-ten finishes during his senior season. 

Upon leaving university, he'd spend some time playing on the Sunshine Tour in South Africa while making an appearance on the Australian PGA Championship. 

Back in 2019, Van Rooyen placed T2 at the Turkish Airlines Open and credited his caddie for helping him push to finish so high. 

"Feely really knows the game," The South African said. "He knows me. He knows how I tick. Walking down 13 he had a really important chat with me to calm me down. He did such a great job; monumental in fact.

“I ended up making birdies at five of the last six holes. I can honestly say if it wasn't for Feely that wouldn't have happened.”

Gaugert is also the PGA Professional at Tonto Verde Golf Club in Arizona and will debut on the PGA Tour this week in the penultimate regular season event before the FedEx Cup Playoffs. 

Several players will be looking for strong finishes at the 3M Open this week in order to qualify for the PGA Tour's season ending events.

Justin Thomas, who missed the cut at the Open, is one big name in the field, and will be looking to post a low score to book his place at the FedEx St. Jude Invitational.