GolfThreads: 2020 Tour Championship Style Recap
The Look of a Champion
Henrik Stenson may own the black monochromatic look, but Dustin Johnson has staked his claim for the navy blue version. DJ had the same navy blue kit on repeat for all three of the final rounds during the FedEx Cup Playoffs, and why not? A 66-foot Jon Rahm bomb was the only thing that kept him from running the tables.
The danger with monochromatic fits is that they can be, well, too monochromatic and flat. DJ combated this by wearing a polo with tone-on-tone stripes and hits of reflective tape on the sleeves to add depth and texture. I also liked how the white shoes and hat helped to frame his look.
If you are looking to go the monochromatic route for your next round, here’s a tip. Pair a polo and pants (or shorts) from the same brand and same collection. Trying to match navy blues between brands is more difficult than it may seem. Every brand has its own version of the color. Even the slightest difference in hues can throw off the entire look.
Blue Man Crew
Speaking of blues, it was a sea of blue at East Lake this past week. So many players were wearing the color that I thought there was a local rule calling for a two-shot penalty if you weren’t wearing blue. So why was there so much blue?
1. Navy blue is the trendy base color in golf fashion. Many colors can be paired with it and designers seem to be playing everything off the color right now.
2. Blue looks good on everyone and lighter shades pop in pro shops.
3. Blue is said to be a calming color. With all that cash on the line, the field of 30 players could have done with some calming thoughts.
Stripe Show
Prints have been dominating the golf fashion conversation in 2020, but for one week in early September, we saw a resurgence in stripes. Over the last decade, we’ve seen fashion trends like color-blocking, plaids, and prints come and go. However, a polo with a classic stripe is always an old standby that never goes out of style.
Yacht Rock
Last week, our Tour Editor Michael Ruuska highlighted Billy Horschel’s preppy, nautical fits as being perfect for late summer rounds. Well, what’s more nautical than nautical stripes? How about a sailboat print? BillyHo never disappoints in the fashion department. That rope hat has some serious old-school vibes, too.
The Adidas Stable
On a weekend where the Kentucky Derby was run, it seems only fitting to talk about the stable of young thoroughbreds Adidas Golf has assembled. The Three-Stripes brand dominated the TOUR Championship leaderboard as Xander Schauffele (26 years old), Rahm (25), Collin Morikawa (23), Daniel Berger (27), and Tyrrell Hatton (28) all finished in the top 15. Don’t forget Joaquin Niemann (21), who is the best dressed of the bunch. This doesn’t even take into account the 36-year-old who was holding the trophy and driving away in the FedEx truck filled with cash at the end of the day.
Georgia on My Mind
Rory never got out of third gear this week, but his fashion sense was on point and never wavered. For each round, he turned to a different colorway of this Nike Dri-FIT Vapor Polo. Word is the floral print was inspired by another famous course in Georgia. Will we see Rory in this polo again in November?
Spoiler Alert
Sticking with the theme of young and talented brand ambassadors, up-and-coming brand Black Quail Apparel has hit the jackpot with Abraham Ancer and Sebastian Munoz. Both made strong runs in the playoffs and Ancer is making a strong case for being included in our annual best-dressed list (#SpoilerAlert). Black Quail does a brilliant job of blending modern and traditional styles with edgy camo patterns, contemporary prints, and classic stripes.
Earning A White Belt in Golf Fashion
There are a lot of reasons to like Sungjae Im, but his belt game isn’t one of them. He is the best example of why a white belt, especially with a dark outfit, doesn’t work. The high contrast of the white belt at the mid-section disrupts the flow of his fit from top to bottom. It is jarring to the eye and essentially cuts him in half. Now, imagine how smooth this kit would have looked with a black belt. This is a chronic fashion misstep for Sungjae. A quick look through the photo archives shows that he wears a white belt for every round. Make it stop!
This column originally appeared on Golf-Threads.com, our content partner for golf fashion and trends.
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