Mcilroy back with Bannon but retains Cowen link
Rory Mcilroy is linking up once again with Michael Bannon, his childhood coach, as he tries to build on his resurgence.
Pete Cowen, the famed Yorkshire instructor who oversaw the Northern Irishman’s return to title-winning form, is staying on as a consultant and will continue to work with Mcilroy on tour.
Mcilroy, 32, confirmed the news to Golfweek. “Yes, Michael and I are back working together,” he said. “I’ve always had a relationship with Pete and I’ll ask for his input if I feel I need it.”
The golf world was stunned in March when The Daily Telegraph revealed that he was enlisting Cowen – the 70-year-old who has guided the likes of Darren Clarke, Lee Westwood and Brooks Koepka – to try to fix his form.
Mcilroy and Bannon had seemingly forged an unbreakable bond, having been together since the prodigy was eight. But family circumstances precluded Bannon from travelling during the pandemic and, determined to find the solution to a wayward swing that had been regarded as the best in the game until he went on the hunt for more length to emulate Bryson Dechambeau, he joined Cowen’s stable.
In their first seven months, Mcilroy won twice, having suffered a blank run for 18 months and 25 events beforehand. In this time, Mcillroy collected more world ranking points than everyone except Jon Rahm, the world No1, Open champion Collin Morikawa and the resurgent Jordan Spieth.
Speaking from Dubai yesterday, Cowen was comfortable both with his contribution to a player who has risen from outside the world’s top 10 to eighth under his tutelage and with Mcilroy’s decision to rekindle the relationship with Bannon.
“It’s being called a ‘split’, which surprises me, as I signed a deal with Rory a few weeks ago,” Cowen told The Daily Telegraph. “It hasn’t yet been rescinded, as far as I know. I’m still on the books and part of the team. I always stressed to Rory the importance of Michael. He knows that swing better than anyone and it would have been crazy to leave behind all that knowledge. They’ve won four majors together.”