Harris English, a rookie in the RYDER CUP, thought he was having it hard when he went seven consecutive years without a win.

Eric Larson, Eric Larson's caddie, KNEW that he was having it hard when he spent ten year in prison for drug dealing!

Larson's story is a Hollywood blockbuster - and one fellow inmate did make a movie about him.

Jordan Belfort was that rogue trader who was convicted of fraud and stock market manipulation. This was the basis of the hit movie 'Wolf of Wall Street.

Larson also made friends with Tommy Chong (one half of the Cheech and Chong comedy team) who was world-famous in the 1980s.

Chong was arrested for selling mail-order bongs, filtration devices that can also be used to smoke cannabis.

They became close friends and appeared together on chat shows after their release. Chong said that he didn't think he could have survived the nine months he spent 'banged-up' without Larson's support.

Larson, 60 years old, was involved in the sale of cocaine, a harder drug, when one his suppliers provided his name to federal investigators back in 1995.

This was evident in the length of his sentence, after he admitted to dealing across state lines.

He was sentenced to 13 years in prison, but was released three years earlier than expected. He was fined PS20,000 and ordered to serve five-year probation after he was released.

Larson was selling cocaine in Florida to his home state of Wisconsin, where he was also buying cocaine. Larson is returning home in a bib and not a convict's uniform.

After giving up his dream to become a professional golfer, he decided to turn to crime to help him make ends meet. He ended up becoming a caddie instead.

He said, "I did it solely for monetary reasons. It was not used and it was never taken on Tour. Was I a major drug dealer? No. No. No.

It doesn't make it better. I violated the law. Although I was not happy with the sentence, I wish it had been shorter so that I could continue my life.

Larson was already working for Mark Calacvavecchia (former Open champion), shortly before his conviction. He promised to support him if he made use of his time inside to be a 'better person'.

Larson spent a decade in four prisons but was able to keep his nose clean in each. Larson earned a degree as a business manager and was then made a trustee. He worked as a gardener, with the produce going to charitable causes.

Calcavecchia kept his promise. Larson was hired again by Calcavecchia, who promised to find him a better bag since he was 46 years old at the time.

Larson was enjoying legitimately earned money when Calcavecchia won 2007 PODS Championship. He also won again with English. English won two major events after snapping the victory drought.

English will be the third Ryder Cup rookie for whom he has caddied, following Anthony Kim in 2008 and John Overton two year later. It's no wonder that they call him "The Minder".

English was not afraid to take on an ex-con. He said: "I respect his story.

After going through what he did, Eric could have chosen to go two different routes. However, he chose the most difficult. He chose to get up, keep going, and make something of himself. Evidently, he has been through a lot in life.

"There is no place I can put him on a course that's going be in a worse position than it was 15 years ago."

Larson hopes that his story will turn around this week by helping English to play a crucial role in winning the Ryder Cup back.

He said, "It's my ultimate dream to be a caddie at the Ryder Cup in Wisconsin near where I grew up."

"It's been an interesting and fulfilling life. I have thought about writing a book. Who in the world would want to read a book that focuses on a man who's been to jail?

Eric, ask Jordan Belfort.