There was farcical drama on the PGA Tour this weekend as a small section of social media decided they weren’t too impressed with JJ Spaun sporting an untucked shirt at the Sentry Tournament of Champions.
Reigniting an age-old dress code debate, several golfing ‘traditionalists’ howled their usual chorus on Twitter after a video was posted of Spaun dialling in an approach with the controversial look during day two at Plantation Golf Club.
This included cries of ‘dumb’, ‘horrible’, ‘sloppy’, and ‘scruffy’ as the American donned the button up Puma shirt, which for the record, is supposed to be worn untucked! (Spaun is also by no means the first to do so, either.)
But despite the haters, Spaun was, for the most, applauded by fans for adopting a cool and modern look, even admitting himself he wasn’t short of on course compliments.
“It’s Hawaii. We’re in Maui. It’s sunny,” he said following the debacle. “I mean, you got to hang loose, right? So whatever. I mean, I got a lot of good compliments for it from the locals, so that’s all I’m trying to impress are the locals here.”
The section of moans still got us get thinking, however. Should golf shirts always be tucked in? Or is it time we moved away from such old-fashioned etiquette quarrels? With there no official rules prohibiting players from tucking in their shirts, here’s what two of writers make of all the noise…
‘I actually think it looks great!’
I bet you thought I was going to be the curmudgeonly 40-something who preferred things in my day when young whippersnappers had respect for their elders, writes Alex Perry.
Well, sorry to disappoint you, but I am firmly of the belief that people should be able to wear whatever they want on the golf course. Indeed, I’ve written it so many times on this website I’m actually bored of my own opinion.
Want to wear jeans? Crack on. Who cares? I wouldn’t do it, for the same reason I wouldn’t wear jeans for my weekly 5-a-side football match. But it doesn’t affect me. The only person it does affect is you because I imagine jeans are incredible uncomfortable to play golf in.
Not only am I OK with Spaun’s untucked threads, I actually think it looks great. Those shirts are designed to be worn that way, and it’s as cool as it is courageous given this era of keyboard warriors.
Speaking of which, was there really a “social media outrage”? Haven’t people got bigger fish to fry? I mean, if all you’ve got to worry about is whether or not a professional golfer is wearing an untucked shirt then fair play to you. I want a slice of your chilled life, please.
‘Keep those shirts tucked in!’
I’ve always thought you should be able to wear whatever you want on the golf course, says George Cooper. Hoodies, joggers, round necks, be my guest. But on the flip side, I’m all for keeping what you are wearing looking smart.
Let’s face it, there is something quite sloppy about the untucked shirt.
Yes, yes, I know I sound like a snob, and maybe it has something to do with my dad always chirping at me for not tucking in my shirt when I was younger!
But it always looks much smarter and tidier when players are tucked in. So while I’m all for a bit of Aloha and Hawaiian Laissez-Faire at the Tournament of Champions, I’m sticking with my guns and saying players should keep those shirts inside their waistbands in for the remainder of the year.
What do you think? Should players tuck their shirts on the golf course? Is it time to ditch the snobbery and allow golfers to wear whatever they want? Let us know on Twitter.
George Cooper
