Harrington eyes Cowen to get back in swing

PÁDRAIG HARRINGTON believes Pete Cowen could be the new coach to help him solve some swing riddles and emerge from his three-year slump.

Harrington split up with veteran Bob Torrance at last week’s Irish Open after 14 years and three major wins together.

And after speaking with Cowen for 90 minutes and then working under his watchful eye for another hour at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational on Saturday night, he’s hopeful they can get together after this week’s US PGA.

Ruling out Atlanta Athletic Club as the place to start, Harrington said: “I asked Pete Cowen to have a look and he gave me his opinion and watched me hit a few shots and it is certainly something different. But I realise that there is a time and a place for everything and Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday of a major is not that time.

“There is no point in going all out before next week but I like what I heard. It is not like I am going to spend the next three days beating golf balls going into a major.

Cowen already coaches 18 Tour players including world number two Lee Westwood and major winners Darren Clarke, Graeme McDowell and Louis Oosthuizen.

But while the Rotherham-based coach took on English amateur sensation Tom Lewis this year, he has vowed not to add to his stable and plans to retire when his current crop eventually leaves him.

“I don’t want to be charging around as an 80-year old — you have to take some time for yourself,” Cowen said at the Open. “There comes a time to bow out gracefully and let the youngsters have a go.”

However Harrington is hopefully that his long-time friendship with Cowen will pay off, insisting: “I would like to think that any coach would like to teach me but I also think that the fact that I know Pete helped the matter. He has got enough on his plate, that’s for sure.”