PGA Championship 2026: Rickie Fowler's playing the shortest driver of his career. Here's why it's working
The shortest Cobra driver of Rickie Fowler's career is working—and the reason why will surprise you.
NEWTOWN SQUARE, Pa. — Two and a half inches. That's the gap between the longest and shortest driver builds Rickie Fowler has played in his professional career.
This week at the PGA Championship, Fowler plans to use a 43. 25-inch Cobra OPTM X driver, the shortest build he's ever put in the bag, following work with Cobra tour rep Ben Schomin. The change didn't come from a data point or swing overhaul, but rather from a feel he remembered from early in his career.
When Fowler first came out on tour in 2009, he played a 45. 5-inch driver and choked down on it—a habit that gave him a sense of control. As his setup evolved over the years, Fowler tried different driver lengths to see which felt better.
But no matter what Fowler used, he found himself coming back to the feel of choking down on the club. During a recent conversation with Schomin, the two discussed options to replicate that feeling, including returning to a longer build. Instead of repeating old habits, Fowler went in the opposite direction entirely and had the driver built at the shortest length he's ever used in competition.