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Rickie Fowler Continues to Prove That He Is a Marketing Genius

By Matt Cochran

Jan 7, 2016; Maui, HI, USA; PGA golfer Jason Day talks with Jordan Spieth and Rickie Fowler while waiting on the 18th tee box during the first round of the Hyundai Tournament of Champions golf tournament at Kapalua Resort - The Plantation Course. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 7, 2016; Maui, HI, USA; PGA golfer Jason Day talks with Jordan Spieth and Rickie Fowler while waiting on the 18th tee box during the first round of the Hyundai Tournament of Champions golf tournament at Kapalua Resort - The Plantation Course. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports /
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New Year, same Rickie Fowler. The man known for taking golf fashion to the next level has started his 2016 season on a high note.

Fowler is playing in the Hyundai Tournament of Champions this week in Hawaii and you may see him rocking a new look. No, I’m not talking about his new tattoo honoring his grandfather. I’m talking about the 27 year old’s new getup.

He’s moved on from the prison orange jump suits and he’s over the long surfer hair (although it’d fare well this week in Hawaii). Rickie has moved onto high top golf shoes and jogger pants.

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Golf WRX reached out to Cobra Puma’s communication manager who explained the fresh new look for the fashion king:

"“Each season we work closely with Rickie throughout the apparel and footwear development and design process to ensure we’re pushing the limits when it comes to both performance and style.During a recent meeting, Rickie expressed interest in wearing a high-top cleated shoe that could be worn with more progressive apparel (joggers style pants). Our design team took inspiration from a prior Puma high-top lifestyle shoe and combined it with the Titan Tour Ignite outsole.The result is a stylish, cleated performance high-top that includes a lace + Velcro closure. The apparel team then matched this with a version of our 6 Pocket Pant that has been custom tailored to a jogger silhouette.”"

As you can imagine, the internet had some fun with Fowler’s new look.

The internet always wins, Rickie.

On Golf Channel’s Morning Drive Friday morning, the crew revisited  Bubba Watson’s driver off the deck on the 18th hole at Kapalua. Chris DiMarco was demonstrating how to successfully use a driver without a tee, Gary Williams asked him the first step.

Without hesitation, DiMarco responds, “No high tops…no high tops.” 

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As you can see, the shoes are causing a little bit of a stir, but I’ll give my props to Rickie. He continues to build his brand using his bold fashion takes. Just as he did with the flat bill hat and orange jumpsuit, this new trend is guaranteed to hit local golf courses soon.

This isn’t the first time we’ve seen these basketball golf shoes on the course, however. Michelle Wie debuted her pink Nike high tops at the Evian back in September. I wouldn’t be surprised if Fowler borrowed this tip from Wie, the two are known friends off the golf course.

The high top trend is going to catch like wild fire and Rickie hopped on it early on. The younger golf generation is already online trying to buy these shoes and jogger-type pants. He’s a marketing genius if you really think about it.

You may think Rickie’s style is an eyesore, but he’s helping the game of golf tremendously. I’d go so far as to say he’s a savior for golf. He’s helping grow the game with his style. This is what kids want and Fowler’s helping attract youth to a game that gets a reputation for being boring.

Next: Rickie Fowler Looks to Take Major Step Forward

Cobra Puma found a gem brand ambassador with Fowler and they’re going to continue to benefit from his aggressive style in 2016. You don’t have to appreciate his style, but at least appreciate his marketing success. Keep doing you, Rickie.

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