Caddie gets sample of spotlight> `Fluff’ aids golf benefit

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OAKLAND – In February, Jane Wherren contacted Mike “Fluff” Cowan about being the guest of honor at Monday’s fourth Mid-Maine Medical Center benefit golf tournament.

“I was in touch with him by phone 15 or 16 times,” said Wherren. “He said he would do what he could [to get to Waterville].”

What he had to do wasn’t easy, since he had to be at Waterville Country Club for a 9 a.m. press conference the morning after the last round of the U.S. Open golf championship.

PGA Tour golfers are used to overnight plane travel, fan recognition, and courtesy cars as they travel around the country for tournaments, corporate outings, or benefit appearances.

Their caddies are used to more mundane accommodations.

But Cowan, a Winslow native and currently the PGA Tour’s most-recognized caddie, got a small taste of what it was like for his employer and the Tour’s brightest star, Tiger Woods.

“He drove from Maryland to Hartford, Conn., because he wanted his car there for the next tournament,” said Wherren as she watched an animated Cowan Monday afternoon. He was chatting with acquaintances old and new on the sixth tee as he greeted each group that came through.

“I told him I couldn’t get a commercial flight out of Hartford after 7:30 p.m., but a private pilot – Steve Collins, from Colby College – agreed to go down and get him,” Wherren continued.

“I told [Cowan] to give us a call when he was about two hours out of Hartford and Steve would meet him there.

“At 4 a.m., I got the call. He was on the Garden State Parkway [in New Jersey].”

According to Wherren, Cowan apologized for the late call, but he’d had to pull over to catch a little sleep.

At 6:30 a.m., Collins picked up Cowan and headed northeast. They arrived at the Waterville airport at 9:45, and Cowan was taken to the club where he decided he needed a shower and shave before officially greeting the new day and the family and friends who had turned out to welcome him.

At 11 a.m., Cowan stepped out in front of the myriad microphones refreshed and ready to go.

“It certainly hasn’t been relaxing, but I think it’s been enjoyable,” said Wherren.

Why did he go through it all?

“Because Jane Wherren asked me,” said Cowan.

“He never charged me a penny,” said Wherren. “He said, `Take care of me getting there and we’ll be all set.”‘

That was easier said than done, but they made it work.

Cowan returns to Maine, where he has a lot of friends and family, once or twice a year.

“I love Maine,” said Cowan. “If it wasn’t so stinking far away, I’d live here now.

“The way my work is right now, it’s just not feasible.”

Though he lives in Columbus, Ohio, now, he has no doubt where his heart is.

“When I drive across that bridge from New Hampshire to Maine, I get a tingle every time,” said Cowan.

After a few minutes at the press conference, Cowan moved to a tee on the first hole to conduct a clinic for four young players from Waterville Junior High School.

They received the honor because they were just starting out in golf, and were willing to accept the pressure of getting their instruction in front of upwards of 100 of their friends, neighbors, and family.

Cowan said a good swing is based on a proper grip and balance in the swing.

While few of their swings were perfect, occasionally scattering parts of the crowd, Cowan was quick to tell them what they did right or wrong and what they needed to do to correct the mistakes.

Each of the youngsters turned in at least one solid stroke to give him something to build on.

“FLUFF” PIECES – With 36 foursomes paying $1,000 apiece to play, the tournament raised at least $36,000 for MMMC’s Mammography Department…. In his 20-plus years as a caddie, he has seen a lot of technological improvements in the equipment. “It’s changed the game a little, but I don’t want to give technology too much credit. The name of the game is to get the ball in the hole, and the hole is still the same size.”… Cowan said at lunch that what he really wanted was a Bolley’s Famous Frank. Later that afternoon, Bolley himself delivered to Cowan some of his hot dogs already slathered in mustard, plus he brought something to drink. When Cowan opened the drink, he said, “Oh boy, Smiley’s chocolate milk. I’ve died and gone to heaven.”