‘I wouldn’t wish it on anyone’: Coach Cowen battling coronavirus after Sawgrass return

Legendary swing coach Pete Cowen has revealed that he has been battling coronavirus after returning from Sawgrass.

The Yorkshireman, who will turn 70 in January, was not tested but ambulance staff confirmed that he had every symptom of the virus.

“You really don’t want this,” Cowen told the Telegraph. “I’m feeling horrendous and wouldn’t wish this on anyone, no matter how young and fit they may be.”

He came down with the illness after doing his usual bits at the Players Championship, working with the likes of major winners Brooks Koepka, Gary Woodland and Henrik Stenson, but he chose to stay at home.

“After a few days of self-isolation, we decided to ring the ambulance and the medics said I ticked every box on the corona sheet – low blood-oxygen levels, persistent dry cough, raging temperature, high heart rate,” Cowen explained.

“They were fantastic, but said they were not allowed to test me unless I was admitted to hospital and then the staff there decided to keep you in. I was surprised, to say the least, and still find it odd, to be honest, but because of the bed shortages and because I’m in pretty good nick, I elected to stay put.

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“I don’t want to alarm anyone, and I might just have been particularly ­vulnerable to it, but I’m not sure how anyone with an underlying illness could cope with this. I urge everyone to do exactly what the authorities are saying. I’ve told all of my players the same.”

Cowen has enjoyed a highly decorated career, he has helped his stars to eight majors and has completed the coaching Grand Slam when Koepka won the PGA Championship, and he has worked with the likes of Lee Westwood, Sergio Garcia, Graeme McDowell and Tommy Fleetwood over the years.

But, like everyone else, Cowen doesn’t anticipate getting back to work, on the range at least, in the near future.

“I can’t see the Tour resuming for months and months. But ­after a week off, getting their heads around it, I know all the pros will start practising and make sure everything stays in working order.

“Next week, I’m sure I’ll get a few videos sent through asking for my observations. Hopefully, I’ll feel up to it by then.”