Fluff's local knowledge at Congressional

The caddie profession these days can be a lucrative one for those employed by the right players, to wit Mike Cowan, Jim Furyk's caddie, who is better known as Fluff.

Dan Steinberg of the Washington Post reveals in his D.C. Sports Bog (yes, Bog) that Fluff is a Maryland resident who has a membership at Congressional Country Club, site of the AT&T National this week. One report places the initiation fee at $100,000.

A check of the Maryland State Golf Association's Handicap Program Verification page reveals that Cowan has a handicap index of 6.7 and a home handicap of 8.0. His index was as low as 4.7 in April of 2008. He last posted a score on Sunday.

He isn't the only caddie with a membership at a high-end country club. Phil Mickelson's caddie Jim Mackay is a member at Whisper Rock in Scottsdale, Ariz.

-- John Strege