When you see a flash of vibrant orange or a sleek, athletic silhouette on the golf course, there's a good chance you're looking at a PUMA athlete. The brand has carved out a unique space in the golf world by sponsoring some of the most dynamic and stylish players in the game. This article will walk you through exactly which golfers are sponsored by PUMA, dive into the specific gear they wear, and offer some practical tips on how their tour-proven apparel and footwear can help your own game.
The Original Trendsetter: Rickie Fowler
You can't talk about PUMA Golf without starting with Rickie Fowler. He wasn't just another sponsorship signing, his partnership with PUMA back in 2009 completely changed the landscape of golf fashion. Ditching the traditional muted tones of the past, Rickie and PUMA brought bright colors, flat-brim caps, and high-top golf shoes to the fairway, making the sport cooler and more approachable for a younger generation. He is, without a doubt, the iconic face of the brand.
Rickie's Signature Style
Rickie's look is instantly recognizable. His most famous tradition is "Sunday Orange," a tribute to his alma mater, Oklahoma State University. Nearly every Sunday of a tournament, he'll be decked out head-to-toe in a vibrant orange outfit. This turned from a personal tradition into a marketing phenomenon, with amateur golfers everywhere adopting orange on Sundays.
- The P-Cap: The iconic "P" logo on a flat-brim cap is a Rickie Fowler staple. It's more than just a hat, it's a statement piece that signified a shift in golf's style culture.
- The Polos: Rickie often sports polos from PUMA's more fashion-forward collections, featuring subtle patterns, interesting textures, or bold color-blocking.
- The Pants: While he’s known for tailored trousers, Rickie was also instrumental in popularizing the golf jogger - a cuffed, tapered pant that blends on-course performance with off-course style.
- The Shoes: He's consistently worn various iterations of PUMA's IGNITE foam footwear, recently favoring models that offer a blend of spikeless versatility and spiked tour-level stability.
Coach's Corner: Play with Confidence
There's a coaching lesson in Rickie's bold style. Golf can be an intimidating game, and many players feel pressure to look and act a certain way. Rickie proved that expressing your personality can be a powerful tool. When you feel comfortable and confident in what you're wearing, you're more likely to feel relaxed over the ball. Don't be afraid to wear that bright shirt or your favorite cap. Anything that helps you take your mind off technical thoughts and frees you up to swing athletically is a good thing. A loose, tension-free swing starts with a relaxed mindset, and sometimes, a little bit of personal style is all it takes to get there.
Tour Winners and Major Champions: PUMA's Power Players
While Rickie Fowler leads the charge, PUMA's stable of athletes extends to major champions and top-ranked players on both the PGA and LPGA Tours. These players showcase the more athletic, performance-driven side of the brand.
Gary Woodland: The Athlete
When Gary Woodland powered his way to victory at the 2019 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach, it solidified his status as one of golf's premier athletes. His PUMA gear perfectly complements his powerful, athletic swing. You won't often see Gary in high-tops or joggers, his style is clean, sharp, and built for performance.
- Performance Apparel: Woodland almost exclusively wears apparel from PUMA's performance lines, like the MATTR (Materials, Technology, Research) collection. These polos and pants are designed with advanced moisture-wicking and four-way stretch fabrics that move with his body during his explosive swing.
- Stable Footwear: For a player who generates as much ground force as Gary, stable footwear is non-negotiable. He trusts PUMA's spiked tour shoes to provide the traction and support he needs to swing without any anwanted movement.
Coach's Corner: The Importance of an Athletic Setup
Look at how Gary Woodland stands to the ball in his performance gear - it's the perfect picture of an athletic setup. He's leaned over from the hips, his back is straight, and his arms are hanging naturally. His PUMA gear isn’t holding him back, it’s stretching and moving with him. This is a tremendous lesson for all golfers. Your clothing shouldn’t restrict your ability to get into a good posture. A proper setup is the foundation of the swing. You need to lean over, stick your bottom back, and create space for a powerful turn. If your shirt is too tight across the shoulders or your pants are too bunchy, you won't be able to rotate freely. Choosing apparel with stretch fabric, like Gary does, is an equipment choice that directly impacts your ability to perform a proper backswing rotation.
Lexi Thompson: The Powerhouse
On the LPGA Tour, Lexi Thompson has been PUMA's leading lady for years. One of the longest hitters and most popular players in the women’s game, Lexi perfectly embodies the brand's blend of power, style, and athleticism.
- Fashion-Forward Function: Lexi's outfits showcase the breadth of PUMA's women's collection. She often sports stylish golf skirts (skorts), modern sleeveless polos, and form-fitting layers that are both functional and fashionable.
- Sleek Footwear: She demonstrates the versatility of PUMA's women's golf shoe line, wearing both spikeless models for comfort and spiked shoes for maximum tournament traction. Her shoes often feature feminine colorways and design details while still providing tour-level performance.
Coach's Corner: Finish with Balance
Watch Lexi Thompson's swing. After she makes contact, she holds a powerful, picturesque, and perfectly balanced finish position every single time. Her entire body is facing the target, her weight is almost entirely on her front foot, and she could hold that pose all day. This is something every amateur golfer should strive for. An off-balance finish is a sign that something went wrong in the swing sequence. Modern performance apparel, like the kind Lexi wears, helps you get to that position. The stretchy fabrics don't pull or snag as you rotate through, allowing you to fully unwind your body toward the target. Practice rotating all the way through until your belt buckle faces the target and hold your finish until your ball lands. A good finish isn't just for looks, it's the result of a swing that transferred energy efficiently and remained in balance, which is the key to consistency.
The PUMA Golf & Cobra Connection
You may have noticed that all PUMA athletes play Cobra golf clubs. This is no coincidence. In 2010, PUMA Group acquired Cobra Golf, creating a symbiotic relationship between the two brands. This allows them to offer golfers a complete, head-to-toe performance package, from driver to shoe.
This integration means that technologies and player feedback can be shared seamlessly. The design teams for apparel, footwear, and equipment can work together to create a cohesive look and feel that supports the modern golfer. When a player like Rickie Fowler needs a specific feel from his shoes to work with the ground forces he creates with his Cobra driver, the brands can collaborate to deliver a solution. This holistic approach is a big part of their success.
How to Bring PUMA Style and Performance to Your Game
Inspired by the pros but not sure where to start? Adding PUMA to your wardrobe is simple and can have a real impact on your comfort and confidence on the course.
- Start with a Statement Piece. You don't need a full orange outfit on day one. A great entry point is an iconic P-Cap. It's a simple way to add some tour style. Alternatively, pick one polo in a color or pattern you love. It's an easy way to inject some personality into your golf attire.
- Prioritize Footwear. If you’re going to invest in one area, make it your shoes. Golf is a game played on your feet, often for 4-5 hours at a time. PUMA's IGNITE foam, found across their footwear line, offers incredible comfort and energy return. A good pair of golf shoes provides a stable base for your swing - remember the setup principles. You can't rotate properly from an unstable foundation.
- Think "System." Instead of buying random pieces, think about how they work together. PUMA makes this easy by designing collections with coordinating colors. A navy pair of golf trousers, for example, will match dozens of different polo colors. Building a small, versatile wardrobe is better than having a closet full of clothes that don't match.
- Remember the "Why." As cool as the gear looks, it's designed to perform. Pay attention to the fabric technologies like MATTR. This fabric will keep you dry on a hot day, and its four-way stretch will allow you to complete your backswing without feeling restricted. It's style with a serious purpose: helping you play better golf.
Final Thoughts
In short, PUMA sponsors some of the most exciting names in golf, represented by the iconic style of Rickie Fowler and the athletic power of pros like Gary Woodland and Lexi Thompson. Their approach combines tour-proven performance technology with a fresh, modern aesthetic that has made the game more accessible and fun.
While wearing the right apparel can help you swing with more freedom and feel more confident, making smarter decisions on the course is what really builds consistency. For those moments when you aren't sure of the right play or need help with a tricky shot, Caddie AI acts as your personal on-course expert. With Caddie AI, I have a powerful tool that helps with hole strategy, club selection, and even real-time advice from-a photo of a difficult lie, all to help you play smarter and enjoy the game more.