PGA Tour veteran C.T. Pan was left searching for caddies during the final round of the RBC Canadian Open after his regular bag man Mike "Fluff" Cowan suffered an injury fall.
C.T. Pan enlists a fan to step in to caddie after Mike "Fluff" Cowan was injured after a fall during the final round. pic.twitter.com/HzRLGzIkeu
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) June 2, 2024
Cowan, a legendary 76-year-old caddie who has worked with top players for decades, had been on Pan's bag since linking up earlier this year. However, slippery conditions caused by some light rain at Hamilton Golf & Country Club took their toll on the Sunday.
Video footage showed Cowan appearing to slip on the wet grass on the third hole, with replays suggesting he took a hard fall. Cowan was shaken up but able to get back to his feet, though he was eventually removed from duty for medical evaluation of non-serious injuries.
Pan was then forced to turn to an improvised solution for the remainder of the hole, grabbing a lucky fan from the galleries to help carry. Golf rules allow for an emergency caddie swap under such circumstances.
For the following hole, the tournament's on-site caddie services provided a replacement. Pan's wife Michelle also readied to step in on the back nine if needed, having caddied for her husband before on tour.
Ultimately, Alex Riddell - the regular caddie for fellow pro Paul Barjon - came out to finish the job for Pan. It was surely a stressful situation for Pan having to shuffle through multiple caddies unexpectedly on Sunday.
“Fourth caddie? That’s a fucking record now!” - Shane Lowry, with a beauty.
— Adam Stanley (@adam_stanley) June 2, 2024
Al Riddell is local, great guy. Nine holes to go. Was watching on TV and came right over. pic.twitter.com/4Rig0aDT4J
Cowan's long career has seen him work with esteemed names like Tiger Woods. Well wishes went out to the veteran loop on his recovery from the slippery mishap.
Read more: MacIntyre Triumphs at Canadian Open with Dad as Caddie
How did Mike Fluff Cowan's slip and fall incident impact the tournament?
A Scary Fall
The reliable 76-year-old Fluff Cowan has seen his share of tournament rounds, but this Sunday took a scary turn. Mid-swing on the third hole, his feet went out from under him on the wet grass. He tumbled hard to the ground, suffering some bumps and bruises that needed looking at.
Stepping In to Help
With Fluff needing medical attention, C.T. Pan suddenly found himself in need of a caddie. Thankfully, fan Paul Emerson jumped at the chance to lend a hand. Though new to the job, he helped steady things until the third hole was done.
All Hands on Deck
From there, more replacement caddies pitched in. First the friendly tournament staff, then local looper Alex Riddell. Despite bouncing between helper, Pan soldiered on with his round.
Grinding It Out
Through the changeups, Pan stayed focused. By day's end he carded an admirable 1-under 69. It left him tied for 35th, just three shots back. Not a bad result considering the unexpected caddie carousel!
Community Spirit
The whole ordeal showed golf's heartwarming community spirit. Many pitched in to help see Pan and the tournament through, ensuring a smooth conclusion won by Robert MacIntyre. Most importantly, reliable Fluff was set to recover from his fall.
References: https://www.golfdigest.com/story/mike-fluff-cowan-slips-falls-caddie-rbc-canadian-open
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