If you’ve ever watched the PGA Tour on a Sunday, your eyes probably gravitate toward the bright orange. That’s Rickie Fowler’s signature look, a nod to his Oklahoma State roots. But once you look past the vibrant gear, a common question usually pops up among fans: how tall is golfer Rickie Fowler, really? On TV, next to guys like Dustin Johnson or Scottie Scheffler, he can look almost diminutive. Yet, he generates a massive amount of power that seems to defy his physical frame.
The official word is out, and it’s pretty consistent across the board. Rickie Fowler stands 5 feet 9 inches tall. In the metric world, that’s about 1.75 meters. He also tips the scales at around 150 pounds. He’s lean. He’s athletic. But in a sport that is increasingly being dominated by "big leaguers" who look like they belong on a basketball court, Rickie is a bit of an outlier. He doesn’t have the 6-foot-4 frame of a prototypical modern bomber.
Why Rickie Fowler’s Height Matters for His Game
You might think being on the shorter side is a disadvantage in golf. Honestly, it’s not that simple. Golf is a game of levers, but Rickie has spent his entire career proving that you don't need to be a giant to move the ball 300 yards.
His swing is unique. If you look at high-speed footage, you’ll notice he has a very flat, "laid-off" position at the top. For a long time, teachers tried to change it. They wanted him to look more traditional. But Rickie is a "feel" player. Because he is 5 feet 9 inches, he has a lower center of gravity than the taller guys. This allows him to stay extremely stable through the hitting zone.
He uses his legs and core to generate "ground reaction force." Basically, he pushes off the earth so hard that it makes up for the lack of long arms. In fact, back in 2012, he was ranked 3rd in total driving on the PGA Tour. That’s insane for someone his size. He was averaging nearly 300 yards off the tee while hitting more fairways than the guys out-driving him by a few yards.
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Comparing Rickie to the Rest of the Field
To get some perspective on how tall is golfer Rickie Fowler, you have to look at the "average" PGA Tour player. Most sources pin the average height around 6 feet tall.
- Tallest Players: James Hart Du Preez is a massive 6'10", and Chris Wood stands 6'6".
- The Average Joes: Rory McIlroy is also listed at 5'9", making him almost the exact same height as Rickie.
- The Smaller Powerhouses: Brian Harman is around 5'7", and Yuto Katsuragawa is 5'6".
When you see Rickie standing next to someone like Rory, they look like mirrors of each other in terms of stature. Both are "shorter" by modern standards but are among the most explosive athletes on the planet. It’s a testament to the fact that golf doesn’t care how tall you are if your timing is perfect.
The Optical Illusion of the "Sunday Orange"
There is a weird psychological thing that happens with Rickie Fowler. Because he wears such bold colors and often sports a flatter-brimmed hat, he can actually look shorter than he is on camera. Darker, more traditional clothes tend to elongate a person's frame. Rickie’s style is loud and boxy.
Plus, he’s often paired with guys like Phil Mickelson (6'3") or Bryson DeChambeau (6'1"). When he’s standing in that company, those four or five inches look like a foot. But don't let the visuals fool you. He’s not "short" by real-world standards; he’s just a normal-sized human playing a game filled with giants.
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Interestingly, his height has helped him in one specific area: putting. Many taller golfers struggle with their posture on the greens, often having to bend awkwardly to get their eyes over the ball. Rickie, at 5'9", has a naturally compact putting stroke. His 34-inch putter fits his frame perfectly. It’s one reason he has remained one of the most consistent putters on tour for over a decade.
The Evolution of Rickie’s Physicality
As Rickie has aged—he’s now in his mid-30s—his height hasn’t changed, obviously, but his build has. He’s much stronger now than when he first burst onto the scene in 2009. Back then, he looked like a scrawny kid who wandered off a motocross track.
He actually grew up racing dirt bikes. That background is probably why he’s so comfortable with a "lower" height. In motocross, being compact and having a low center of gravity is a huge advantage. He brought that "action sports" mentality to the golf course. It’s why he’s not afraid to take aggressive lines or swing out of his shoes when the moment calls for it.
What Most People Get Wrong About His Stats
People often assume that because Rickie is 150 lbs, he must be getting "bullied" by the course. That’s just not true. Modern golf technology (launch monitors like TrackMan) shows that Rickie’s clubhead speed is often in the top quartile of the tour.
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The misconception comes from his ball flight. He hits it high. Really high. In 2023, he was among the leaders in "Apex Height." When you hit the ball that high, it doesn't always roll as far as a low piercing draw, so his "total distance" stats sometimes look lower than they should. But in terms of pure raw power? The guy is a beast.
Actionable Takeaways for Your Own Game
If you find yourself relating to Rickie Fowler because you aren’t 6'4", there are some real lessons you can pull from his career. You don't need height to be a "bomber," but you do need to understand your own body's mechanics.
- Emphasize Stability: Notice how Rickie stays "connected." Because he is shorter, he doesn't have a lot of "extra" movement in his limbs. Focus on keeping your feet planted and using the ground for power.
- Equipment Matters: Rickie is notorious for testing different shaft lengths. If you are 5'9" or shorter, don't just buy "off the rack" clubs designed for a 6-foot person. Get fitted. A half-inch difference in your irons can change your entire swing plane.
- Core Strength Over Bulk: Rickie isn't a bodybuilder. He focuses on rotational speed and flexibility. If you want to hit it like him, skip the heavy bench press and work on your obliques and hip mobility.
- Master the Short Game: Height is irrelevant on the putting green. Rickie uses his stature to his advantage by maintaining a rock-solid, repeatable setup. If you can’t out-drive the big guys, out-putt them.
Rickie Fowler has built a Hall of Fame-caliber career by being exactly who he is. Whether he's 5'9" or 6'5" wouldn't change the fact that he has one of the best "clutch" genes in the game. He's proof that in golf, the only height that truly matters is the height of the trophy you're holding at the end of the week.
Next time you see him on the 18th green at Augusta or Pebble Beach, remember that those 69 inches of height are packed with more athletic talent than almost anyone else in the field.
To improve your own driving distance regardless of your height, start by tracking your smash factor rather than just total yardage. This measures the efficiency of your strike, which is the true secret to Rickie Fowler's power. Focus on center-face contact during your next range session to see how much "hidden" distance you can unlock without changing your physical stature.