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.