Long-time PGA Tour caddie Mike “Fluff” Cowan was being treated at the clubhouse at Hamilton Golf & Country Club for “non-serious injuries”, according to the Golf Channel, after slipping and falling during the final round of the RBC Canadian Open.
Cowan, 76, has been on the bag for tour veteran C.T. Pan since the WM Phoenix Open in February. He was working again this week on the hilly course 80 kilometres outside Toronto, which was made even treacherous to get around on Sunday with light rain falling during play. The combination appeared to cause Cowan to fall on the third hole.
Video showed Cowan shaken, although it was unclear the extent of any injuries he might have suffered.
After getting up, Cowan tried to soldier on but was eventually taken for evaluation. A fan was plucked from the crowd to work for Pan the remainder of the hole. (The Rules of Golf allow for a change of caddie at any time, although a player cannot have more than one caddie at a time and cannot change caddies temporarily for the sole reason of getting advice from a new caddie.)
C.T. Pan enlists a fan to step in to caddie after Mike "Fluff" Cowan was injured after a fall during the final round. pic.twitter.com/HzRLGzIkeu
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) June 2, 2024
“Fourth caddie? That’s a fucking record now!” – Shane Lowry, with a beauty.
Al Riddell is local, great guy. Nine holes to go. Was watching on TV and came right over. pic.twitter.com/4Rig0aDT4J
— Adam Stanley (@adam_stanley) June 2, 2024
Cowan told Sports Illustrated in February that he might retire from caddieing later this year after his daughter finishes college. Still, when he talked to Golf Digest at the Players Championship in March, he left the impression that he continues to enjoy the grind of working on the PGA Tour.
Cowan began his pro caddie career in 1976 with Ed Sabo. After two years with Sabo he enjoyed two decades with Peter Jacobsen before moving to Tiger Woods in 1996. Woods and Cowan were together for Woods’ record-setting 1997 Masters victory.
At the 1999 Masters, Cowan began working for Jim Furyk, a partnership that lasted until this year when the pair formally parted ways.