published: May 3, 2024

Jim Furyk parts ways with iconic caddie ‘Fluff’ Cowan

Jim Furyk and Mike ‘Fluff’ Cowan began working together in 1999 but they’ve decided the time has come to go their separate ways…

Jim Furyk and his caddie Mike ‘Fluff’ Cowan have parted ways.

With the disappointing news confirmed by Golfweek on Thursday, Cowan is now carrying for PGA Tour player C.T. Pan at the age of 76.

Cowan and Pan are working together for the ninth time this week at the CJ Cup Byron Nelson, but the popular looper first began working for Furyk at the 1999 Masters.

The pair won the 2003 US Open together and other highlights included Furyk shooting 58 at the 2016 Travelers Championship. Furyk encouraged Cowan to work for Pan full-time having been blighted with injuries in recent years.

“Love the guy,” Furyk said in a text to Golfweek. “I’m still struggling with injuries and I pushed him to work for C.T. full time.”

“We play for $2 million. They play for $8, $20, $25 million,” Furyk added. “I knew it was a good opportunity for him, and C.T. has been playing pretty good. (Fluff) was hesitant. Because he’s a great person at heart. But I pushed and we both knew it was best for him and his family.”

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Furyk is third on the all-time PGA Tour earnings list having won 17 times. He has represented America nine times at the Ryder Cup, but he has only played three times on the PGA Tour Champions so far in 2024.

Cowan worked most recently for Furyk at the Galleri Classic in late March, but it now appears his son Tanner will now carry for him at the next three or four tournaments.

“It’s hard to part ways after 25 years,” Cowan said. “Sometimes the right thing to do is staring you right in the face and you’ve got to have the guts to do it.”

Known for his distinctive moustache and nickname, Cowan earned the label of ‘Fluff’ from a resemblance to golfer and broadcaster Steve MeInyk.

Cowan has also caddied for Tiger Woods, Fred Couples and Peter Jacobsen. His current partner Pan won for the first time on the PGA Tour at the 2019 RBC Heritage and he also won a bronze medal for Taiwan at the 2020 Olympics.

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About the author

Matt Chivers

Matt has been playing golf since the age of 13 and was largely inspired to take up the game by countless family members who played golf during his childhood.

Matt is a member at Royal Cinque Ports in Deal playing off a 5 handicap, just a pitching wedge away from his hometown of Dover where he went to school and grew up. He has previously been a member at Etchinghill and Walmer and Kingsdown in Kent.

Having studied history at the University of Liverpool, Matt went on to pass his NCTJ Exams in Manchester a year later to fulfil his lifelong ambition of becoming a journalist. He picked up work experience along the way at places such as the Racing Post, the Independent, Sportsbeat and the Lancashire Evening Post.

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