Background
McGowan was born in Basildon, Essex, and grew up in Banstead, Surrey and educated at Epsom College.
McGowan was born in Basildon, Essex, and grew up in Banstead, Surrey and educated at Epsom College.
With the assistance of College Prospects of America, he went to university in the United States and played collegiate golf at the University of Tennessee. Shortly after that he turned professional. McGowan led the 2007 Challenge Tour Rankings going into the Apulia San Domenico Grand Final, thanks to two wins and three runner-up finishes during the year.
Courtesy of his final Challenge Tour Rankings position in 2007, McGowan graduated to the European Tour for the 2008 season.
He moved into the top 100 of the Official World Golf Rankings in January of that year, and in June played in his first major championship, the United States. Open at Torrey Pines. He made the halfway cut and eventually finished in 77th place.
He finished at -25, winning by three strokes over Mikko Ilonen. McGowan finished second at the inaugural Dubai World Championship, and was ranked 12th in the Race to Dubai.
Following this McGowan suffered injuries and his form slumped.
He lost his full playing rights at the end of the 2011 season. 2006 English Amateur
European Tour wins (1)
Challenge Tour wins (2)
Sunshine Tour wins (1)
DNP = Did not play
CUT = missed the half-way cut
"T" = tied
Yellow background for top-10. Amateur
Eisenhower Trophy (representing England): 2006
Street Andrews Trophy (representing Great Britain & Ireland): 2006 (winners).