GolfThreads: Workday Charity Open flashes fashion flair
We’re five weeks into the PGA Tour restart and most players have worked in at least one rest week at this point. Likewise, our Tour Editor Michael Ruuska is taking a much-deserved break this week to rest his golf fashion eye in preparation for next week’s Memorial and a run-in to the majors and playoffs.
This is a long-winded way of saying you’re stuck with me this week. And what a bizarre week it was. We had the return of straw hats and Tartans, shattered glass prints, twins all over the place, and plenty of golf fashion lessons to be learned.
Jardin De Loup Done Two Ways
Prints are in and Greyson’s Jardin De Loup pattern is one of the most intricate and sophisticated prints you will find. Luke Donald and Sam Ryder are two of the best-dressed lads on Tour and they showed us two different ways to wear the same Jardin De Loup Polo. Donald opted for a monotone approach, pairing it with a dark grey trouser. On the flip side, Ryder chose a chalky pastel pant, which is a great alternative to a white trouser. Take your pick. Both worked equally well.
Who Wore It Best, Part I
Twinning! The opening round saw Jason Day and Matthew Wolff tee it up in (nearly) the same Nike kit with one big difference—the belt! While I like all the components of Wolff’s kit, the pattern on the braided belt competes too much with the pattern on the shirt, which confuses the eye. J-Day took a simpler-is-better strategy by matching a solid-colored belt to his pants. This allowed the polo with an all-over print to be the star of the outfit.
Who Wore It Best, Part II
Sticking with the twinsies theme, Matt Wallace and Viktor Hovland slipped on J.Lindeberg’s KV TX Jacquard Polo. First, this is one sick shirt. The technical Jacquard is knitted in a way to create an abstract camo pattern with fewer seams. On the back, the classic JL bridge is woven into the fabric. This is a great example of an iconic design element done in a new and technical way.
So, who wore it best? I’ll take Wallace’s smooth pairing with light grey pants and white shoes over Hovland’s high-contrast white trousers and black shoes any day.
The Big Break
Michael pointed out Troy Merritt and Galvin Green’s Markell Polo a couple of weeks ago. It bears repeating as the shattered glass design is one of the coolest patterns in the golf fashion world. Every time I see this polo I can’t help but think about the Glass Break Challenge from the Golf Channel’s Big Break back in the day. There was something riveting about watching players smash a window by controlling the trajectory and direction of a shot while under pressure. Each miss ratcheted up the stress to another level.
Buckets
There is no middle ground when it comes to bucket hats. You are either a bucket-hat guy or you are not. There is a certain amount of quirkiness needed to pull off the look and Peter Malnati has just the right level to make it work. You do you, Peter. Btw, that Lisle Flower Print Polo from FootJoy is on point.
The Last Straw (Hat)
We all make mistakes. As a big fan of Greg Norman’s swashbuckling style back in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s, I teed up Tour Edition golf balls and donned a white straw hat. Both decisions are regrettable. The Tour Editions were about as solid as a marshmallow and spun like a top. The straw hat was just bad. One day, Charl Schwartzel will feel that same regret. I’m here to listen to your golf fashion penance when you are ready, Charl.
Rope a Dope
Better headwear decisions I made back in the day involved a collection of rope hats. Seriously, is there a more iconic golf lid than the rope hat? With retro styles from the ‘80s and ‘90s making strong comebacks, the rope hat is once again on-trend. Take a page out of Billy Horschel’s stylebook; find one with a small patch on the front and a rope in a contrasting color.
Utility Belt
Sam Burns showed us why the grey belt is the most versatile accessory for your summer wardrobe. I wouldn’t have had a problem with Burns taking the easy (boring) road matching a white belt to his trousers for Saturday’s round. The addition of the grey belt, though, complemented the rest of his look while adding another dimension to it. Sunday he wore the same belt but with a much different outfit; one that was darker and more monochromatic. In this case, the grey belt blended and created an easy transition from top to bottom.
Tartan Comeback
When Ian Poulter shuttered his IJP Design apparel company a few years ago, it appeared his colorful Poulter Tartans were shuttered, too. They all but disappeared from his wardrobe, only to escape the archives over the past few weeks. No doubt, there seems to be a correlation between the return of the Tartans and the recent revival of his game.
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