PGA Tour sophomore Sam Ryder turned heads with a final-round nine-under 62 that leapt him into third place on Sunday at the Shriners. But he grabbed telecast attention for a different reason, too: his pants. The 28-year-old’s jogger-style trousers were the latest example of golf’s new wave going fashion forward (or backward, depending on your perspective).
Ryder always prefers the slim-fit look, but took things a step further by showing off a little ankle with the tapered pants on Sunday. It worked from the start: Ryder birdied the first two holes and never looked back. He added seven more birdies against zero bogeys, even getting up-and-down for par after finding the water at No. 16. The Sunday charge saw him climb from 14th into third for a significant payday.
Social media was well aware of Ryder’s fashion call, and it’s safe to say the look wasn’t a 100% hit.
2 stroke penalty for those pants 😏 C’mon man !
— Norm Devine 🇨🇦 🏌 (@NormDevine) November 5, 2018
Anyone else rooting against Sam Ryder strictly because of his pants?
— W (@scdubbya) November 4, 2018
https://twitter.com/The_Mark_Hill/status/1059210204347318273
Still, others gave Ryder’s play a well-deserved tip of the cap.
Sam Ryder shoots 62, owns the clubhouse lead.
I’d wear these pants every day for that score. pic.twitter.com/ogavjLfbpn
— Jason Sobel (@JasonSobelGolf) November 4, 2018
And others still were sold on the fresh look.
Running out and grabbing my joggers today.
— Arron Oberholser (@ArronOberholser) November 4, 2018
I hope Sam Ryder wins just because he has cooler pants than everyone else
— Tre (@TreCraigGolf) November 4, 2018
Golf Channel’s Rich Lerner perhaps summarized traditional golf’s collective sentiments best. “We’re a long way from the Sansabelt era,” he said. And no, it doesn’t take much to shock the conservative world of golf fashion.
Ryder was asked to describe his golf style sense in three words in an interview earlier this year with TrendyGolfUSA. “Sleek, slim and trendy,” he said. “Guys are pushing the envelope a bit now on what we can and can’t wear. Fashion does go through cycles and the door is starting open to do be able to wear some different and fun things.”
On Sunday, Ryder’s play gave him plenty to be proud of. “I knew it was going to have to be silly low if I was going to have a chance,” he said after posting the clubhouse lead at 19 under. “I just wanted to have a good day and take it hole by hole, shot by shot, play well, and that’s kind of what I did. Just made maybe the best ball-striking round of my life.”
