Thousands of outfits were worn on Tour in 2021. Twelve attained ‘favorite status’ for GolfThreads’ Tour Editor Michael Ruuska. What were the sickest fits of the year? Everything from galactic patterns and bold floral prints to joggers and cuffed trousers made the list.
See Also: The Top 20 Fits of 2020
12. Scott Harrington (G/FORE)
Did you know it is estimated that there are about 10,000 stars visible to the human eye across the entire sky (both hemispheres)? The G/FORE Gradient Dots Polo is a star. It brings a clear and moonless night far away from the city lights to the golf course.
11. Matt Wallace (J.Lindeberg & FootJoy)
When I first saw this kit Matt Wallace wore in Abu Dhabi I wrote that I loved the vertical strip of this J.Lindeberg polo like I do the smell of fresh laundry in a stale room. Ten months later and I still feel the same way.
10. Abraham Ancer (Black Quail & FootJoy)
I love apparel with a story. The Black Quail Terlingua Ghost Polo is named after an old mining town in Terlingua, Texas; which became a bona fide ghost town by the end of World War I. Tumbleweeds are synonymous with sleepy ghost towns and, like cowboys, are icons of the Old West. This shirt has tumbleweeds but is far from sleepy.
9. Justin Thomas (Greyson Clothiers & FootJoy)
JT was a Dime during Day 1 of The Masters. He cracks the top ten here too. I was a big fan of the thoughtful design on this Greyson Clothiers shirt. The Spirit of Augusta polo honors the uniqueness of Augusta and the foliage of the course. The blue House of Fleming belt worked well with the collar of the shirt and created a seamless transition to his trousers.
8. Ian Poulter (Bespoke & FootJoy)
The classic and timeless kit was stylish in its simplicity. The outfit also allowed those Tarlows with the old-school kiltie from FootJoy’s Southern Living Collection to stand out.
7. Danny Willett (Descente)
The color blocking on this Descente polo creates a really cool gradient effect. Gimme.
6. Rory McIlroy (Nike Golf)
Rory’s Nike Golf Polo honored the fiftieth anniversary of golf as the only sport ever played on the Moon. On February 6, 1971, Alan Shepard hit the most widely watched golf shot in history when he hit a 6-iron from a bad lie ON THE MOON. He actually hit two balls, the first he clearly duffed (sigh–I can relate), and the second one he claims traveled “miles and miles and miles.” Apparently, Shepard was prone to hyperbole. A British imaging specialist, Andy Saunders, recently determined that the golf ball Shepard hit on the Apollo 14 mission traveled only 40 yards. Curious how far Rory McIlroy could theoretically hit a ball on the moon? 3.41 miles, according to Saunders. This would give new meaning to the USGA and R&A “Distance Insight Project.”
5. Brian Gay (G/FORE)
In early 2021 I interviewed Brian Gay for a GolfThreads feature. He told the story about this particular outfit…..
“At the Tournament of Champions, I wore a pair of floral print pants for ‘Aloha Friday’ that I hadn’t tried on beforehand. When I put them on, they were just a little tight. Fortunately, my polo looked great untucked, not to mention more comfortable.”
Not only did he make it work, but he also owned the look.
4. Billy Horschel (Ralph Lauren & FootJoy)
Loyal reader, Larry pointed out that these pants look like his grandmother’s couch. Billy Horschel is the ONLY man alive who can make a print from his grandmother’s couch look this good. Billy-Ho in patterned trousers is always a crowd-pleaser.
3. Erik van Rooyen (Greyson Clothiers & Ecco)
I could have found any picture of Erik van Rooyen from any tournament this past year and inserted it here. I went with this one. Nuf ced.
2. Keith Mitchell (Sid Mashburn & FootJoy)
The fashion breakout story on the PGA Tour this year has been Keith Mitchell and his classic looks and natural fabrics from Sid Mashburn. The tabbed, wider-leg trousers cuffed to hit just above his FootJoy saddle shoes was a winning look week in and week out. And the high-crown visor? Damn, Gina!
1. Lanto Griffin (Galvin Green & FootJoy)
The Galvin Green Maddox shirt is my favorite polo of the year. The ultra-modern print is a pixelated design that wears like a tonal floral pattern at a distance. Lanto mixes in the cap-toe FootJoy Tarlow shoes for my 2021 ‘fit of the year!
JT & Billy ho rocked again as usual this year with EVR not far behind. Thanks for the reports & merry Xmas to you all.
Its BillyHo, JT and Danny and everyone else. Excellent writeup!