2016: The Year Of The Pete Cowen Stable

As we put the finishing touches on a busy year,  The Telegraph's James Corrigan uses the BBC Sports Personality Of The Year's snub of Pete Cowen to highlight the instructor's stunning year.

With sidekick Mike Walker, Cowan works with an astounding list of players who had hugely successful seasons.

Corrigan explains that beyond teaching Masters winner Danny Willett and Open Champion Henrik Stenson, Cowen's deft touch extends far into some of the top success stories of the year.

Chris Wood won the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth in May, so fulfilling all the potential he had shown when finishing fifth as an amateur at the 2008 Open. The Bristolian did so under the guidance of Cowen and Walker.

Matt Fitzpatrick won the £1million first prize at the DP World Tour Championship last month, beating the likes of Rory McIlroy, and so lifted this third European Tour title at just 22, younger than a fellow Englishman by the name of Sir Nick Faldo managed. Fitzpatrick has been in the Cowen stable since he was a young teen.

Padraig Harrington wound back the years when prevailing at the Portugal Masters, the 45-year-old’s first win on the European Tour since the USPGA in 2008. Yes, Harrington is coached by Cowen. As is Thomas Pieters, the Belgian who, at Hazeltine in September, became the first European in Ryder Cup history to record four points on his debut.