USPGA Championship blog: Rickie on the road

At the 2014 USPGA Championship, some things are more important than others. For instance, what could be more pressing than what Rickie Fowler would pack into the boot of his car for a road trip

Rickie Fowler's boot

At the 2014 USPGA Championship, some things are more important than others. For instance, what could be more pressing than what Rickie Fowler would pack into the boot of his car for a road trip

Mercedes-Benz, the official car of the 2014 USPGA Championship, has converted the concept into a stylistic triumph that has become a must-see exhibit at its Performance Centre here at Valhalla Golf Club.

When the good people of Kentucky are not straining their eyes to see if Tiger Woods is feeling the slightest twitch or twinge is his fragile back – after the former world number one finally arrived at the PGA Championship, at lunchtime on Wednesday – they are queuing up to peer into the boot of the new Mercedes-Benz GLA, filled with the paraphernalia of Rickie Fowler’s life. There is something biographical about it.

Mercedes-Benz asked Fowler to choose what he would throw into the back of the car, bearing in mind it had to fit within the cargo space of 43.6 cubic feet in the GLA (with the rear seats down). Fowler obviously included his Cobra clubs and golf bag, glove and balls, as well as three Puma shirts and a hat (that must have been difficult for Fowler to narrow down, because he routinely travels with five times as many shirts and caps, not to mention shoes and belts to complement every colour in the Puma collection), sunglasses, Beats headphones, Go Pro camera and a six pack of Red Bull.

All the essentials, then.

Robin Barwick travelled to the USPGA Championship courtesy of Mercedes-Benz. Mercedes-Benz is the official car of the PGA Championship

Nick Bonfield
Features Editor

Nick Bonfield joined Golf Monthly in 2012 after graduating from Exeter University and earning an NCTJ-accredited journalism diploma from News Associates in Wimbledon. He is responsible for managing production of the magazine, sub-editing, writing, commissioning and coordinating all features across print and online. Most of his online work is opinion-based and typically centres around the Majors and significant events in the global golfing calendar. Nick has been an avid golf fan since the age of ten and became obsessed with the professional game after watching Mike Weir and Shaun Micheel win The Masters and PGA Championship respectively in 2003. In his time with Golf Monthly, he's interviewed the likes of Rory McIlroy, Justin Rose, Jose Maria Olazabal, Henrik Stenson, Padraig Harrington, Lee Westwood and Billy Horschel and has ghost-written columns for Westwood, Wayne Riley, Matthew Southgate, Chris Wood and Eddie Pepperell. Nick is a 12-handicap golfer and his favourite courses include Old Head, Sunningdale New, Penha Longha, Valderrama and Bearwood Lakes. If you have a feature pitch for Nick, please email nick.bonfield@futurenet.com with 'Pitch' in the subject line. Nick is currently playing: Driver: TaylorMade M1 Fairway wood: TaylorMade RBZ Stage 2 Hybrid: Ping Crossover Irons (4-9): Nike Vapor Speed Wedges: Cleveland CBX Full Face, 56˚, Titleist Vokey SM4, 60˚ Putter: testing in progress! Ball: TaylorMade TP5x