[Photo: Getty images]
Of all the nations, who’d have thought Australia would be the most hellbent on making golf style statements at the Masters?
Cameron Smith practiced in a four-way stretch navy sport coat on Wednesday, and there was much handwringing over what Jason Day would wear Thursday. After last year’s controversial loud vest, Day was the only player asked to submit his scripting to Augusta National in advance of this year’s Masters, a conversation that began in February.
The white, green and black spray paint pattern of Day’s 2025 Masters Thursday shirt (above) is the work of Futura, a graffiti-artist of remarkable history who worked alongside Jean Michele-Basquiat and Keith Haring in New York City in the 1980s. He painted album covers and stage backdrops for The Clash, and in more recent years has enjoyed commercial projects with companies like Nike, Uniqlo and BMW. The word is, Day was told he could wear Futura’s pattern on his bottoms with a solid top, or as a shirt with solid bottoms—but not both, as originally submitted.
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Where is the line of what’s appropriate for competitors at the most elegant professional golf event of the year? Collars mandatory? Tiger’s famous mock and Rory’s blade beg to differ. No drawstrings? Seems reasonable until you remember they are a common feature on rain pants. No logos larger than three-inches by five-inches is a PGA Tour guideline that forced designer Stephen Malbon to make alterations. Though Malbon joked (?) he might print his eponymous logo at the proper size a few dozen times down each sleeve in a new design.
The best dress codes are unwritten. When rules are set in words, the mischievous will find ways to break them. It’s better to encourage, and if need be, enforce a spirit. Perhaps that spirit is: look buttoned up.
Cameron Smith surprised many when he wore a sport coat during his practice round on Wednesday. Richard Heathcote
Augusta National has prevented commercialism from tainting its tournament better than any major sporting event in the world. The elevated dress and comportment of all who attend is a large part of what makes the atmosphere so special. Then again, we should be careful not to discourage style that attracts new and younger people to the game. An artist of the cultural cache such as Futura might do that.
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As for the Aussies this week in Augusta, if this behaviour is an homage to their countryman Greg Norman—whose distinctive bold stripes, wide-brim hat and Shark logo pushed player fashion forward in the 1990s—they might be better off emulating Adam Scott. – MAX ADLER, GOLF DIGEST
