Tour News

An archaic tradition crumbling: European Tour allows shorts in practice rounds

Published

10 years ago

Jan 20, 2016

A week after players were permitted to wear shorts during practice rounds in 100-degree Malaysian heat at the EurAsia Cup, European Tour Chief Executive Keith Pelley has decided to make the practice round and pro-am shorts policy permanent following a tournament committee vote.

Pelley said:

“The players have embraced it. Shorts are a natural evolution to help modernise the game. It puts our players first and our fans first as well. The fashion of golf is something that the youth adopt. We will have strong rules, but there will be some fashion statements, and it’s a great start.”

Reportedly, Ian Poulter and Darren Clarke, both of whom competed in the EurAsia Cup, lobbied hard for policy change on knee-lengths during practice.

Jordan Spieth and Rory McIlroy both spoke positively of the decision ahead of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship.

McIlroy said:

“I like it. I think it’s a good idea to let guys wear shorts in practice rounds. I probably just need a couple more weeks in the sun to get my legs out in public! I think all the guys enjoy wearing shorts, especially in practice, and especially if it gets hot, I think it’s a good idea.”

Spieth said:

“I think it’s awesome. I think it will be something that I would love to see on the PGA Tour, as well. Guys seem to all love it over here. And most of the guys that are really talking highly of it are the older guys oddly enough. Yeah, I think it’s a great move.”

And the list of players cheering the decision on social media is growing, with Ian Poulter tweeting, “Get rid of the stuffy old rules that hold golf back. Make it more fun everyone.”

All of this begs the question, “Are we on a slippery slope toward shorts in men’s competition?” And of course, further, “Is there a good reason (other than tradition for its own sake) to restrict male professional golfers from wearing shorts?”

With respect to the former, the answer seems to be, “probably.” James Corrigan of the Telegraph thinks so.

Regarding the latter, here are a few reasons why the pros ought to be able to wear shorts in competition.

If elite amateur golf is the purest form of the game, and said elite amateurs are allowed to wear shorts, then why not the men who play for money?

Admittedly, baggy, pleated chino shorts and leather saddle shoes looked a little odd together 20 years ago (especially when paired with white socks). Now, players wear sneaker-style shoes with tighter fitting, athletic-style shirts. Shorts are more befitting these days.

Also, there’s something incongruent about the fact that LPGA pros are allowed to wear shorts, and have greater freedom of choice in their attire.

We live in an ever increasingly casual culture, for better or worse. There was a time when adult males would never wear shorts, now it’s commonplace. While the traditions of golf are important, the wearing of pants on the golf course is not, and given participation numbers, golf needn’t wall itself off any further from dominant trends.

Whatever the traditionalist ideal of golf looks like, it doesn’t look like the present climate anyway. Pants are appropriate (in hot weather), along with jackets, dress shirts and tweed hats when playing hickory golf.

As Ian Poulter told Golfweek: “I really don’t see a problem with wearing shorts during tournaments. I mean it is 2016.”

Indeed it is.

But what do you think?

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Ben Alberstadt

Ben Alberstadt is the Editor-in-Chief at GolfWRX, where he’s led editorial direction and gear coverage since 2018. He first joined the site as a freelance writer in 2012 after years spent working in pro shops and bag rooms at both public and private golf courses, experiences that laid the foundation for his deep knowledge of equipment and all facets of this maddening game. Based in Philadelphia, Ben’s byline has also appeared on PGATour.com, Bleacher Report...and across numerous PGA DFS and fantasy golf platforms. Off the course, Ben is a committed cat rescuer and, of course, a passionate Philadelphia sports fan. Follow him on Instagram @benalberstadt.

24 Comments

Will

Jan 23, 2016 at 8:20 pm

Lol, beautifully said.

Reply Report comment
Shallowface

Jan 23, 2016 at 5:17 pm

I’m sure we’re going to see this allowed in tournaments sooner rather than later.
I’m looking forward to hearing someone at a post round presser at The Masters or The US Open say “my feel was off this week because they won’t let us wear shorts here.”

Reply Report comment
Nathan

Jan 22, 2016 at 9:55 pm

What would the reaction be if the men could wear shorts and the ladies were not allowed to??

Reply Report comment
Alex

Jan 22, 2016 at 10:25 am

Playing golf in shorts rock!

Reply Report comment
Jay Golf

Jan 21, 2016 at 7:23 pm

I think they should stick with the long pants. The dri-fit fabrics available nowadays are a lot different than a pair of thick pants of yesterday. I think the pros should be able to stand out from the gallery, and not look like them. The pros playing in shorts would look like hackers from the pro-am. Why do many football coaches make their players wear suits and ties walking to the stadium or flying on the plane? Because they want them to look professional. I don’t mind the fitted European cut clothes and the bright colors (not loud mouth pants, that’s horrible for anyone), but have some kind of standards. It’s a slippery slope. What’s next, jeans? Tshirts? I would not have so much minded the high top shoes if they weren’t paired with the Capri pants. Fowler looked like he was ready to do the moonwalk at any moment. I’m not old, Im in my 30’s and I like style and fashion, but this is not a step in right direction. Actually, I’d probably rather have shorts on Tour than the loudmouth pants and the moonwalking outfit. Maybe in 10 years we’ll see a guy on tour in a speedo with one of those tuxedo tshirts, pink socks, neon green shoes, and a neon purple hat with the word Juciy printed across the butt of his speedo. Who’s to say what in style and in fashion once the ball gets rolling. I’ve worn adidas dri-fit thin fabric pants in hot weather before. It’s not that bad…. I might not even mind shorts in practice rounds if the pants came on when the tourney rounds hit TV. How many times have you turned on the golf channel and seen guys in shorts playing and known straight away that they were the pro-am or celebrity hackers…..

Reply Report comment
Sean

Jan 21, 2016 at 6:28 pm

Let’s be honest, even for traditionalists, are shorts really more inappropriate than billy horschel octopus pants?

Reply Report comment
Rory

Jan 21, 2016 at 4:11 pm

About time……pants are stupid when its hot! How many of you where pants on principle when its hot…if you do there’s something wrong with you.

Reply Report comment
Pumper

Jan 21, 2016 at 3:41 pm

As far as first world problems go, this has to be right up there…

Reply Report comment
Scott

Jan 21, 2016 at 12:10 pm

Long pants in hot weather is something that I have never understood. Bring on the shorts!

Reply Report comment
Bob Vokey

Jan 21, 2016 at 11:37 am

Looks tacky

Reply Report comment
SV

Jan 21, 2016 at 8:21 am

When were shorts banned? I remember Brian Barnes (England) playing in shorts in Europe years ago. (Google Brian Barnes golfer if you don’t believe it) I see nothing wrong with it.

Reply Report comment
Fahgdat

Jan 21, 2016 at 3:16 am

No, but we’re on a slippery slope to allowing golf carts (buggies) in competition full time, and no more walking in golf is where we’re headed, if I may be so extreme down the black diamond slope

Reply Report comment
- Ronald Montesano
  
  Jan 21, 2016 at 8:24 am
  
  How are shorts connected to carts? I don’t recognize the tie-in, so I’d love to have another’s reasoning for this.
  
  Reply Report comment
  - Andy
    
    Jan 21, 2016 at 8:47 am
    
    he’s joking brother.
    
    Reply Report comment
naia73

Jan 20, 2016 at 10:56 pm

Awful. No respect for the game

Reply Report comment
- prime21
  
  Jan 20, 2016 at 11:58 pm
  
  But let me guess, knickers are respectful? Respect comes from within, plain & simple. If a player wears long, custom made pants, & a crisp, pressed shirt, can we assume they are respectful? When basketball shorts became long, was the game ruined? Did sleeveless shirts spell the end of Professional tennis? If it’s tradition we seek, should we not all wear ties and play with hickory shafts? We can count on 3 things in life…..death, taxes, & change, so let it go. Seems to me that given a choice, some would wear shorts, while others would still prefer pants. Either way, the game would still be played in the same exact manner and the particpants would have the same amount of respect for it which they had from the beginning. I used to think Jordan Spieth was great until I saw him in shorts, said nobody, EVER.
  
  Reply Report comment
  - Doug
    
    Jan 22, 2016 at 11:10 am
    
    100%. Totally agree.
    
    Reply Report comment
- Ronald Montesano
  
  Jan 21, 2016 at 8:27 am
  
  How does it not show respect for an impersonal entity (the game)? Societal norms have changed from the time of Old Tom and Allen Robertson.
  
  A major reason for discrepancy is in the European vs. American view of shorts in public. European adults wouldn’t be caught dead wearing shorts on the street, whereas in the USA, shorts are more commonplace. Touring golfers are doubtless exposed to this American preference and cannot help but make it their own, should they decide that shorts are truly comfortable.
  
  Reply Report comment
  - GG
    
    Jan 21, 2016 at 10:38 am
    
    Ron, have you been hiding in a cave or something? “Europeans” have been wearing shorts long before Americans even discovered Bermuda shorts! We’re talking Southern Europeans like Italians, Spanish, the Southern French, Greeks, and the like, of course, may be you only visit Scandinavia or Scotland in the winter or something? Even in London people now walk around in Bermudas, thanks to the trend that has been brought over there from America. In fact, even the old British Empire soldiers were wearing shorts as they conquered hot countries like India and South Africa. There is no discrepancy here.
    
    Reply Report comment
  - DK
    
    Jan 21, 2016 at 7:56 pm
    
    Holy smokes where have you been. Have you not seen some of those Euro shorts outfits? Leather sandals with black socks, short shorts and a tank top? Hideous!
    
    Reply Report comment
Robert

Jan 20, 2016 at 8:42 pm

The high-tops looked stupid, especially with the pants. Shorts will still require some tasteful decision-making, and be properly paired with shoes and socks. I shudder to think of what Boo may wear.

Reply Report comment
Jacob

Jan 20, 2016 at 5:34 pm

How come everyone loves this and hates the high-tops?

Reply Report comment
- Scott
  
  Jan 21, 2016 at 12:16 pm
  
  For people that spend their entire working day on their feet, they should wear what is comfortable and supportive to them, high-tops or traditional (whatever that means). Looking good is important, but being comfortable imperative. Same goes with shorts.
  
  Reply Report comment
- Scott
  
  Jan 21, 2016 at 12:17 pm
  
  I should have started that “I agree”
  
  Reply Report comment

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