Pete Cowen, whose charges include World Number One Lee Westwood, US Open Champion Graeme McDowell and Open Champion Louis Oosthuizen, has been named UK Coach of the Year at the 2010 UK Coaching Awards.
As players line up for end of year awards, with both McDowell and Westwood among the ten nominations for the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Awards, it is fitting that the man behind these great players received due recognition at a ceremony at the Brewery, London, last night. He also picked up the High-performance Coach of the Year Award.
His stable of players have won 12 times in a glorious 2010 season, with the two Major Championship titles and the World Number One accolade and Cowen is rightly proud of their achievements.
“All my players seem to be comfortable in uncomfortable situations,” he told The Times. “That’s what sets them apart.
“Lee absolutely loves those situations and so does Graeme. Look how he held out at the US Open and then closed The Ryder Cup. He was terrific.
“European golf is in a good place at the moment and I’m just proud to be a part of it and to have such a good group of players to work with.”
Westwood said: “This is an award that is thoroughly deserved. Pete’s had a fantastic year, what with coaching two Major Championship winners and the first three [Ossthuizen, Westwood and Henrik Stenson] in The Open. It’s great that golf is not overlooked and fantastic for Pete.”
Oosthuizen and McDowell were equally effusive. “It could not have gone to a more deserving coach,” the South African told The Times. “He is the best and, without his help, I doubt I would have become The Open Champion.”
McDowell added: “Pete’s knowledge of the swing and the short game is second to none. He has been an integral part of my success this season and I am proud to work with him.”
England Cricket coach Andy Flower and Great Britain Boxing Performance Director Rob McCracken were also in contention for the High-performance Award.
Elsewhere, legendary cricket coach Jack Birkenshaw won the Lifetime Achievement Award (supported by Coachwise Ltd). The former England all-rounder enjoyed County Championship success in 1996 as coach of Leicestershire - their first title in 21 years - and in 1998. Recently he helped the England Women’s team to silverware as assistant to Head Coach Mark Lane.
