Well, the NBA playoffs are over, and now it is time for us to turn our attention solely to the summer of sports. From baseball and Formula 1 to the World Cup and Tennis, there is no shortage of excitement on TV. One of the most popular events happening right now is the U.S. Open, and I will be tuning in to Shinnecock Hills to see who will pull out the win. I will also be taking notice of the styles in the course. I can’t help it; it is who I am. I remember the days of the iconic black chino and red polo from Tiger Woods and the always crazy ensembles of John Daly. But we are entering a time where we are seeing styles on the course we can wear off the course without looking too much like a dad who has given up.
Below are two items from six of my favorite guys on tour this year. They make them look great while they’re competing, you can make them look great while cheering them on with a beer in your hand. I am pretty sure yours has a lot less pressure involved.
Scottie Scheffler style
A heavy favorite to take home the U.S. Open win this week at Shinnecock Hills, Scottie Scheffler is a favorite when it comes to golf style for a few reasons. The first: He, like most others, adheres to the more classical country club style of polos and pants. The second: He takes that style, and he adds his own personal flair with fun colors. The above look takes the course classic and adds in a bit of his color flair with lilac golf pants and a complementary purple braided belt. Of course, the braided belt is one of my new favorites for casual situations, but it works best on a golf course. Below are some great picks to emulate this look for yourself.
Kent Pull-on Trouser from Redvanly
Terra Braided Belt from Beltology
Rory McIlroy style
Well, Rory seems to always be a favorite when he pulls into town and starts swinging. He is one of the best of the best every time he steps on the course, so he has his very own personal brand. My favorite looks from him are almost always when he pairs a loud, patterned shirt with a classic look everywhere else. He has a talent for letting the shirt speak for itself while he tones down the hat and pants. Above, notice the busy pattern of the shirt he pairs with the blank canvas white pants and the classic of the classic white Nike DriFit hat. Nothing says iconic like the swoosh.
Jon Rahm style
Jon Rahm is another man who sticks to the classics. He is one of the best when it comes to dressing for the course. When he walks out his door, it is never a question for anyone where he is headed. The striped shirts add a bit of personality to the look while he pairs them with a darker color on the bottom, letting the bright colors and stripes let the players behind him know he is still putting for his birdie. I chose a striped shirt from Holderness and Bourne that could be paired with virtually any color pants and a navy selection of The Don Pants from Fabletics.
Flemming Shirt by Holderness and Bourne
Cameron Young style
Cameron Young is a bit of a dark horse to compete this week, but I love a good underdog, so I will include him here simply so I can point out two things about him that go beyond the course. The first is his adoption of the stiff-collared polo. He has taken the trend of the perfect layering polo from the office to his place of work, the links. Of course, I couldn’t talk about the stiff-collared polo without shouting out the OG of the style, Collars & Co. Second thing I love about him is the reason I love the stiff-collared polo, his ability to layer with the best of them. Sure, all golfers love a good quarter-zip, but there is just something about his quarter-zips that look better than everyone else’s. This one by Greyson Clothiers will pair nicely both in structure and colors with the light blue and navy.
Semi-Spread Polo by Collars & Co
Colorado Quarter-Zip by Greyson Clothiers
Miles Russell
Say what you want about the youth, but what they lack in experience, they have figured out in self-awareness. One of the things they have done well is taking what is old and make it new again. A recycling of all the old styles we know and love has been on the rise for a few years now, and Miles Russell has been doing that in spades. A classic performance short with a new take on the Nike sneaker is just what the doctor ordered for this year. I have chosen a Peter Millar short and a variation of the Air Jordan 1 that you can wear on or off the course, whatever strikes you. If you want to compete on the course with Russell, go for it. Me? I think I will just dress like him instead.
Surge Performance Short by Peter Millar
Hideki Matsuyama
Gotta love a good jacket and pair of shades. Matsuyama is deadly with his irons, which will help him tremendously at Shinnecock. But he also does the performance jacket better than anyone, and he has found a way to make the old school athlete sunglasses cool again. When I was growing up, there was the street shade and the sport shade, and you never mixed business with pleasure. But Matsuyama does it, and instead of finding the ire of the style world, he has influenced all to continue. Oh, and how do you find a way to get good at the iron game? Preparation, and that is what he does with his jackets. Always ready, rain or shine.
