Jim Furyk reunites with caddie Mike ‘Fluff’ Cowan at DICK'S Open

Ernie Els and caddie Ricci Roberts split up and got back together so many times that Roberts compared them to Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor.

Jim Furyk and Mike “Fluff” Cowan, on the other hand, are merely on their first reunion at this week’s DICK’S Open on PGA TOUR Champions. They split amicably in May, with Furyk nursing an injury and suggesting Cowan go to work fulltime for C.T. Pan on the PGA TOUR.

“Us getting back together came from me basically wanting to finish my career working for Jim Furyk,” said Cowan, 76, whose long working life as a caddie includes carrying the bag for Tiger Woods at the outset of his professional career, including his 1997 Masters victory.

“It was hard leaving C.T. (Pan),” Cowan continued, “but it felt like it was what I really wanted to do, so I contacted Jim. His son Tanner was getting involved in his life more to where he was going to be too busy to caddie, Jim needed a caddie, and I wanted to work for Jim, so here I am.”

Furyk, 54, has made six previous starts this season, with his best a T18 at the Principal Charity Classic earlier this month. His son Tanner was on the bag for that tournament but could not keep working for his dad due to a prior commitment.

“He’s starting an internship back home for six or seven weeks, so he’s working hard and really enjoying that,” Furyk said. “It was fun having him on the bag.

“Mike contacted me,” he continued, “and just good timing. … We talk about our families and our kids. Mike’s been great because he doesn’t take that friendship for granted; he knows when it’s time to be a friend and he knows when it’s time to go to work and be a caddie.”

The availability of carts and the more common 54-hole format lightens a PGA TOUR Champions caddie’s load. For Cowan, though, it was his friendship with Furyk that made this an easy call.

“He’s been a blessing to have on the bag,” Furyk said.

Added Cowan, “I respect the heck out of him as a person, certainly as a player. Being associated with somebody like that makes coming to work a joy.”