In the world of golf fashion, there is a short list of pros whom you could describe as particularly sartorially savvy.
Tiger Woods, once synonymous with Nike, and now wearing his own brand, Sun Day Red, and Adam Scott, who has worn Uniqlo since 2013, have always been polished and traditional on the course, wearing mostly well-tailored earth tones and flattering neutrals.
Billy Horschel, a longtime Ralph Lauren partner, has taken a few risks over the course of his career — remember the famous octopus pants? — but has made a name for himself as a fashionable player by mixing conservative staples and trendy colors and prints with aplomb.
In recent years, Rory McIlroy has made huge gains in on-course style. Part of that is simply McIlroy growing up. It’s easy to forget that he was just 18 years old when he turned pro in 2007. Now, he’s 35, a husband and a father, and his apparel has matured along with him.
Nike, the brand McIlroy has worn since 2013, famously does not share sponsorship when it comes to apparel, and Nike athletes sport the swoosh from head to toe. This stipulation alone elevates the outfits; they’re clean, never fussy, never busy. McIlroy has also embraced more youthful trends and silhouettes that other golfers on the brand’s roster don’t, like European, slim-fit tailoring.
As I watched the opening round at Pinehurst No. 2 on Thursday, McIlroy was the clear winner of Round 1’s fashion award. His look is simple, but it offers some worthwhile lessons for golf dressing:
1. Matching hat and shoes
A white hat and white shoe combo remains undefeated. Follow that template, and you can wear pretty much whatever you want in between. You’ll still look put together.
2. Bold solids are winners
McIlroy’s polo absolutely popped off the screen. The color — an orangey-melon — is highly visible without being too bright. The fit is great — snug not tight, with a sleeve length just a cut above the elbow. I love the pairing with navy pants — it adds a youthfulness to the ensemble that would have been lost with black, gray or khaki. Also, the slim, tapered fit of the pants looks athletic and nicely tailored, flattering McIlroy’s body type.
3. Belts matter!
McIlroy’s braided belt is trendy and cool but it’s not the focal point of this outfit. Instead, it blends seamlessly with the pants, but adds some cool texture and depth close-up. Stretchy, woven belt styles generally look great with performance fabrics, and this one is no exception.
McIlroy’s outfit incorporates everything I love about men’s golf fashion: it’s fresh, trendy (not flashy!) and fits well. Check out Rory McIlroy’s entire U.S. Open Thursday ensemble below, all of which is available on Nike’s website. You can click the links to buy now.
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