Furyk and ‘Fluff’ make the perfect blend

CADDIES, more than their employers, seem to be capturing the headlines these days.

Here in Europe, but elsewhere too, they are changing bags almost by the day with Colin Montgomerie, for the second time in a year, poaching another man's looper. And there were other high profile developments as well, not least JP Fitzgerald leaving Paul McGinley for Darren Clarke. Now there's a rumour that the longest standing team, Bernhard Langer and Pete Coleman, may be coming to an end.

Coleman wasn't at the US Open amid talk he is cutting down on his transatlantic activity, while others put a more sinister spin on the relationship. And then, as the 103rd US Open came to a conclusion, there was the familiar figure of Mike 'Fluff' Cowen striding alongside would-be champion Jim Furyk.

Cowen, of course, gained fame for his role as Tiger Woods' caddy on his first foray into professional golf in 1997 when they captured the Masters together by a massive 12 shots. It looked a relationship made in heaven but that would be to misunderstand the reality of life on tour.

Woods thought Cowen was seeking too much of the limelight for himself (he even appeared in a television commercial for a hotel chain, and even went so far as to reveal their financial arrangement to a magazine). In 1999 Woods replaced him with current bagman, New Zealander Steve Williams.

Cowen is a good caddy and wasn't out of work for long. He was picked up by Furyk and after Sunday those Tiger years must seem a long time ago.

"I am still awaiting an explanation from Woods and I didn't probe him on it," said Cowen. "It wasn't the first time I was fired and it probably won't be the last. I enjoy who I am with now and I'm not saying that in any reference to Tiger. He was fun to play with. So is Jim Furyk. It's just the way it is."

The stocky, low to the ground Cowen doesn't look as well as the athletic Williams in shorts. Cowen has a sad-looking face with a bushy moustache and looks rather like a sheep dog. A very wealthy one though, and even yesterday he couldn't decide which was better, that amazing 12 shot victory in the 1997 Masters or this year's US Open.

"It's only been a few hours so I don't know which is better," he said. "I'm not going to take anything away from Augusta because it was special. The first time, I was thrilled about it. This is a national championship. That's a thrill, too. Jim's a solid player and it was just a matter of time before he won somewhere. The fact it's the US Open makes it more special."

The great irony is that Stevie Rawlinson, the caddy Montgomerie poached from Leaney, had a miserable Open, trudging around with his grumpy boss whereas the Aussie, true to his national character, made light of a succession of problems to come home a worthy runner-up. Not alone did Rawlinson walk out on him but Justin Hoyle, the replacement caddy who travelled to Chicago, fell ill after the first round and had to be replaced by Alistair Howell, who was attending the Open as a spectator.

The caddies helped, but Furyk and Leaney dominated the leaderboard because they adapted best to the particular requirements of a US Open venue.

Furyk hit fairways, reached greens in regulation, and either two- putted or sank a few for birdie. That strategy was the keynote over the final 27 holes as the closest pursuers slipped away, most notably Fijian Vijay Singh.

Fourteen players started the final day under par. Only four finished that way. Olympia Fields bared its teeth at last but it was too late. You just can't see the USGA coming back to a course where a man shot eight under par. They like the winner to be level or even worse.

Furyk (the man against whom Ireland's Paul McGinley sank the putt to give Europe the Ryder Cup last year) had seven US Tour victories to his name before Sunday and has always been regarded as an elite player despite his quirky swing. He has gone up to another level now.

"He's won tournaments, been on Ryder Cup teams and President's Cup teams," said Mike, Furyk's father and only teacher. "This makes his career complete" which was stretching it for Jim who, even on Father's Day, was prepared to tangle with his dad. "I'm not retiring," he grinned.

Furyk had been labelled, with Phil Mickelson, as one of the game's finest never to win a major. Like Mickelson he constantly claimed it never meant that much to him although his delight and that of his wife Tabitha, baby daughter Cayleigh Lynn and the rest of the family, gave a clear indication a massive monkey has been removed from all their backs.

"Tabitha and I were reading the names on the Open trophy during the presentation," he said. "From the professional standpoint, that's the most important thing about it. My name will forever be on that trophy with the unbelievable names in golf. You can't take that away from me."

Cowan, having been through it all before, had advised Furyk that funny things happen in the final round of a major. But he hadn't bargained for a topless woman offering him a flower at the 11th green.

"I went into total shock, I love my wife and didn't want that flower," he said. Some might have been rattled by the incident but not Furyk. A birdie at the 14th dispelled any doubts.

"I iced the tournament there and it was just a case of bringing it to the house. It was an awful nice feeling to have a four shot lead. I've never done that before, where I just could smell the roses along the way."