Major champion splits with legendary caddie after 25 years

One of golf’s most iconic and long-standing player-caddie partnerships has finally come to an end. 

After 25 years together, Jim Furyk and Mike ‘Fluff’ Cowan have parted ways.

The 2003 US Open champion and the former caddie of Tiger Woods have worked together since the 1999 Masters, but Cowan will no longer carry Furyk’s bag in future tournaments.

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The “amicable” split comes as Furyk battles injuries and Cowan pursues full-time work on the PGA Tour.

Cowan, instantly distinguishable with his trademark walrus moustache, is now looping for C.T. Pan and is working with the Taiwanese star at this week’s CJ Ccup Bryon Nelson in Texas.

“Love the guy,” Furyk told 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. 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 has been sidelined with injuries problems for two seasons now and his best finish on the Champions Tour was a T33 at the Hoag Classic in March.

The US Ryder Cup stalwart has earned $19,464 on the senior circuit this season, while 32-year-old Pan has banked $674,187 during a promising few months on the PGA Tour.

“It’s hard to part ways after 25 years,” 76-year-old 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.”

Cowan worked for 15-time major champion Woods from 1996-1999 before linking with Furyk. It is understood that Furyk’s son Tanner will now start carrying his father’s bag in some events this summer.

Ben Parsons joined bunkered as a Content Producer in 2023 and is the man to come to for all of the latest news, across both the professional and amateur games. Formerly of The Mirror and Press Association, he is a member at Halifax Golf Club and is a long-suffering fan of both Manchester United and the Wales rugby team.