WITB: Rickie Fowler wins with Cobra and hot tour putter

The four-year drought is over. After an exciting playoff win, Rickie Fowler has made a long-awaited return to the winner’s circle.

The Rocket Mortgage Classic did not disappoint, and neither did fan favourite Rickie Fowler in his Oklahoma State orange.

The Odyssey Versa Jailbird putter has dominated the headlines recently, and the Rocket Mortgage Classic became the third consecutive event to witness the winner using it.

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Wyndham Clark and Keegan Bradley both lifted titles with it at the U.S. Open and Travelers Championship, respectively.

Fowler’s stats with the putter are impressive, as he ranks eighth on tour for birdie conversion or better, seventh in putting average and eighth from ten feet, with a 59% conversion rate.

He averaged 1.6 putts per green in regulation and 27.86 per round in a sublime putting display.

The 34-year-old’s iron play also stood out in Detroit. The Cobra King tour irons were electric through the tournament, as he missed just 11 greens out of 73, for a greens in regulation figure of 84.93%.

It was close to the end, with Morikawa shooting a 64 to sit in the Clubhouse at 24-under-par before Adam Hadwin made birdie on 17 to tie for the lead and secure his place in a three-way shootout.

Fowler had started with three birdies on the front nine, but eight consecutive pars on the back nine halted his progress.

However, a solid drive before a precise approach shot on 18 left just 12 feet for a first birdie of the back nine, leading him back down the final hole for the playoff.

A wayward drive left fans fearing the worst, but Fowler found space to work a clear shot into an open pin, and he rolled the putt home to end the drought.

Rickie Fowler – What’s in the bag

Driver: Cobra Aerojet LS (9 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana Prototype 70 X

3-wood: Cobra Aerojet LS (14.5 degrees @13.5 degrees)
Shaft: Aldila Tour Green 75 TX

5-wood: Cobra LTDx LS (17.5 degrees)
Shaft: UST Mamiya LIN-Q M40X White 8F5Irons: Cobra King Forged Tour (4-PW)
Shafts: KBS Tour C-Taper 125 S+

Wedges: Cobra King (54, 56, 58 degrees)
Shafts: KBS Tour 610

Putter: Odyssey Versa Jailbird
Grip: SuperStroke Tour 3.0 17-inch

Ball: TaylorMade TP5

James Tait is bunkered’s Gear Editor. Want to know how the latest Callaway driver, Vokey wedge or Scotty Cameron putter performs? He’s the guy to ask. Better yet, just watch his videos on the bunkered YouTube channel. One of the biggest hitters in the UK, James also competes on the World Long Drive circuit and is a descendent of former Amateur champion Freddie Tait.

Gear Editor