’60s retro vibes, pops of pink, new takes on navy, and a rant from an old head. Greg breaks down the best and worst looks from a divisive golf fashion weekend at the Masters.
See also: Masters Fashion Dimes & Crimes: Day 2
Fashion Dimes
Jake Knapp (Original Penguin & Nike)
Low key, Jake Knapp has one of the coolest vibes on Tour, and the whimsical pattern on Sunday’s All-Over 60’s Floral Pete Print Polo was a perfect complement to his laid-back feels.
Denny McCarthy (Ben Sherman & Payntr)
I’ve always been drawn to Ben Sherman’s British mod style, so I’m stoked to see the brand popping up on the fairways. McCarthy’s polka dot polo is a modern throwback with a contemporary print and a vintage placket and collar that bridges the gap between Ben Sherman’s 1960s roots and the current state of golf fashion.
Max Homa (FootJoy)
Damn. I was pulling hard for Max over the weekend but he just didn’t have enough firepower to hang with Scottie. That being said, FootJoy has to walk away as one of the big winners of this year’s Masters. At a time when golf fashion brands are trying to be streetwear labels and streetwear labels are trying to be golf brands, FJ’s commitment to unapologetically being a golf brand resonates with me. At the same time, everything the brand is doing is current and on-trend. From some of the most hype shoe collabs with the likes of Jon Buscemi, Todd Snyder, and Metalwood Studio to sportier looks, FJ is putting a modern spin on many of golf’s traditional designs.
Two things about Max’s polo on Saturday grabbed my attention. First, after seeing navy blue dominate the fairways in recent years, this deep Blue color stood out from the crowd. It sits between navy and royal and brings a more vibrant energy to the fairways. Second, that hit of pink on the collar band was a small detail that really made this shirt pop.
Rory McIlroy (Nike)
Speaking of pink, Rory’s soft pink polo on Saturday nicely complemented Augusta’s springtime landscape. I like that Rors is sticking with more solids this year. He wears those better than a lot of the bold prints we’ve seen from Nike in previous years.
Xander Schauffele (Descente & Adidas)
Color below the waist as opposed to above the waist always has more impact which is why Xander’s green pants on Saturday turned heads. Keeping the rest of his fit clean and simple, allowed them to be the center of attention. Overall, I’ve been underwhelmed by the Xander/Descente partnership this year, but this week was a step in the right direction.
Min Woo Lee (Lululemon & FootJoy)
Simple, clean, and athletic. This Gatsby Blue color is another example of a fresh take on navy. Also note, that the straighter leg on the ABC Classic-Fit Trouser is a departure from the tapered slim-fit that has been the go-to in the past. This is a subtle evolution to a more generous fit.
Fashion Crimes
I decided not to do any Crimes for this edition. Honestly, I’m weary of all the commentary concerning a certain player and brand. Although we have always tried to take a light-hearted approach to the Crimes section, I don’t want to feed that negative discourse today. I’ve been part of the online golf fashion community even before I started GolfThreads 12 years ago. It has always been a positive community where people supported, encouraged, and respected each other. This past week, I saw middle-school level name-calling and bullying, threats of violence, people wanting to shrink the game, and others wanting certain ‘streetwear’ and ‘traditional’ brands to go away. And this was from people on BOTH sides of the debate.
I’m thankful that golf is booming, and as a result, there are diverse styles to choose from. No matter what your style preference may be, there is a brand for you that will allow you to feel comfortable on the course. That’s pretty cool. This also means that if you want people to respect your style, you should respect theirs, too.
We live in a world of extremes and social media algorithms reward these extremes. You have to be all in or all out on a brand, a player, a style, or a movement. You can’t like a player’s pants one day and not the next. You can’t like his shirt, but not his sweater. You have to like everything in a brand’s collection or nothing at all. There is no room for nuanced discussion or thought.
I have a lot more to say about the state of golf fashion and the golf fashion community, but I’ll leave it there for now.
Thanks for the great reports.