The shortest PGA golfer is well under 5’7.5”, the worldwide average. Here’s a list of other modest men on the pro links.
To me, out of all the types of famous people, athletes are the ultimate source of inspiration. Don’t get me wrong. Hollywood actors are fantastic. Seeing small-statured men become movie heartthrobs shows us that we don’t have to be insecure in the dating scene. However, overall, there’s always something subjective about the arts. Whether someone can score on the field is straightforward. And perhaps it’s because of my fairly preppy background, but golf is one of my favorite sports.
I’ve compiled a list of the shortest PGA golfers here. These guys prove that you can make a significant impact and be an inspiration, regardless of your height.
11 Short PGA Players
You’d be surprised how relatively easy it is to find great short PGA players. You don’t need to be tall to be strong. You don’t need to be tall to be good at strategy. Shortness is a benefit in some sports, like gymnastics or horse riding. Meanwhile, height is beneficial in sports like basketball. However, anyone can play golf.
So, here are the shortest professional golfers, in no particular order!
Brian Harman, 5’7”
Brian Harman isn’t just shorter than the average guy but also left-handed. In 2023, he won his inaugural major at the Open Championship. He’s actually been on the radar of the industry since 2014. In college, he won the John Deere Classic.
Harman is fun to watch. He boasts not just accuracy and clutch putting but flaunts tons of flair. It’s one thing to be great at a sport. But it’s another to remember that you’re also an entertainer in a way!
Ian Woosnam, 5’4”
The legendary Welsh golfer won his first Masters Tournament in 1991. Though he’s well under even the average height of professional golfers, he’s a true power hitter. This guy has a lot of strength in that swing.
Inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2017, Woosnam was part of the Big Five. This generation of European golfers all won majors, making Europe an important force in the Ryder Cup.
Kurt Kitayama, 5’7”
Kurt Kitayama is renowned for his aggressive approach to the sport. Personally, I love how it proves that shortness doesn’t cancel one’s ability to be traditionally masculine. A truly competitive player, Kitayama golfed his way into victory during the 2023 Arnold Palmer Invitational. He’s a symbol of fierceness and power in the game of golf.
Alejandro Tosti, 5’6”
Alejandro Tosti holds several titles on the PGA Tour Latinoamérica. In 2023, he won his first Korn Ferry Tour at the Pinnacle Bank Championship. Like Harman, he’s been making waves even before going pro. He’s won numerous pre-professional accolades. He’s a bronze medal holder from the Pan American Games. Additionally, he’s a truly dedicated athlete.
CT Pan, 5’7”
Of all the shortest PGA players, CT Pan is arguably one of the most precise. Related to, and perhaps because of that, Pan is also impressively consistent. If Kitayama is the patron golf saint of fierce competitiveness, Pan represents always showing up the same guy. Of course, both are legitimate approaches to sports (and life).
Yuto Katsuragawa 5’6”
In the game of golf, you need both strong aggression and intelligent precision. Japanese golfer Yuto Katsuragawa manages to balance both, which is why he’s making such a big impression. In fact, the Japan Golf Tour awarded him the Rookie of the Year Award in 2022. Not a bad start.
Katsuragawa won both the 2022 and 2024 ISPS Handa Championships and has earned top-50 finishes in several championships.
Zac Blair, 5’6”
Zac Blair partnered with Tiger Woods during the Memorial Tournament in 2015. It wasn’t exactly Woods’ finest hour. However, there’s something to be said about Blair’s intimate involvement with greatness.
Methodical and accurate, Blair is an undeniably tenacious player. The Salt Lake City native earned All-American status in 2012. He also finished in the top 40 at the US Open in 2014 and won the 2019 Ellie Mae Classic.
Bud Cauley, 5’7”
Bud Cauley hasn’t won a major championship yet. Still, I think his determination is inspirational. He doesn’t give up. He even came back from a major car accident in 2018.
Cauley had an excellent golf career at the University of Alabama and then went full professional in 2011. He can at least boast top-40 finishes at the PGA Championships and the Open—that’s more than I’ve done!
Tim Clark, 5’7”
Tim Clark cinched his status by winning the Players Championship in 2010. The South African athlete is known for a highly accurate and precise iron play. Even more, he has an incredibly impressive short game.
A few of Clark’s other awards include three European Tour wins and a runner-up finish at the 2006 Masters. In 2014, he suffered a major wrist injury. However, overcame it and won during the RBC Canadian Open in 2014.
Austin Cook, 5’7”
Another consistent player, Austin Cook, boasts a truly strategic approach. He started his career at the University of Alabama and has been a pro since 2014. Cook won the PGA Tour in 2017 during the RSM Classic. He also performed well at the RBC Canadian Open and Shell Houston Open. He’s an undeniably dedicated golfer.
Tad Fujikawa, 5’1”
Tad Fujikawa, the shortest pro golfer ever, was born underweight with a 50/50 chance of living. Not only did he live, but he grew up to become the youngest player to qualify for the US Open. The way I’d describe his playing style is fearless. If you’re looking for a source of inspiration in the resilience department, Fujikawa is quite the hero.
FAQ
Do you still have questions regarding short gents on the links? No problem! We’ve answered many of the most common ones on the internet already. However, here are some TLDR answers you can use as a resource!
Are There Any Short Golfers?
Yes, there are several short golfers, including some excellent ones like Brian Harman and Kurt Kitayama.
Who Is the Shortest Golfer on the PGA Tour Right Now?
At only 5’1”, Tad Fujikawa became the youngest player to qualify for the US Open.
What Is the Average Height of PGA Tour Players?
Though always changing, the average height of PGA Tour players is around 5’10”, which makes golfers just a touch taller than the average.
Who Is the Shortest PGA Golfer?
The answer is Tad Fujikawa. I wanted to highlight Fujikawa specifically because he has quite a compelling story. On top of that, he’s a true modest man. At only 5’1”, this Hawaii-born athlete is well under the average height in the world and most countries.
Conclusion: Inspiration on the Links and in Life
What’s great about the shortest PGA golfers is that they’re actually a few of the best. Among these gents, there are record-breakers and examples of best practices. How cool is it that Tad Fujikawa was the younger golfer at the US Open? Or that Ian Woosman is in the Hall of Fame?
The shortest male golfers all have one thing in common: They’ve never let their size affect the integrity of their play. That’s an inspiring message to take away and a wonderful idea to aspire to. In relation to this, Mizzen and Main Shirts embody the same spirit of resilience and excellence, proving that quality and performance are never compromised, no matter the size.
Who is your favorite golfer of modest height? Let us know in the comments below!
I’m glad you included Ian Woosnam. For a 10 or 15-year period during the 1980s and 90s, Woosie was not only one of the most effortless long hitters of a golf ball but also his swing was a thing of beauty to watch. I still remember him hitting a 1-iron from the right of the 13th in Round 3 of the Masters in 1991, hooking it around a tree and over the creek to the heart of the green. It was so pure that it was like witnessing a form of golf we will never see again.
Chi Chi Rodriguez, at 5′ 7″, was also an exceptionally long hitter of the ball.