Worst-Dressed Golfers of All Time
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Guilty as charged.Golfers today are better than ever. On the course, they’re crushing the record books with drives nearing 400 yards and posting rounds that trounce long-held course records on a semi-weekly basis. What has changed more than anything, though, is golf style.
Golf has gone through a few periods of fashion. It started with the origins of the Open Championship, with players wearing full suits and sweaters. It got more casual with Arnold Palmer in the 1950s, sweaters and slacks. Move into the 1990s, and we have oversized polos and fancy headwear. Today, we have arrived at a place where golfers are athletes first, and the attire mirrors that.
Through the years, however, some players have branched out to try and set, or even break, trends in the industry.
This has gone wrong more often than not, which makes the worst-dressed golfers in history so special.
25. Rickie Fowler
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Red alert.Country: United States
Years on PGA Tour: 2009-present
PGA titles: 5
Highest ranking: 4
Bottom line: Rickie Fowler has become one of the most stylish and trendsetting dressers on tour, but he had to sort of find his way.
When he broke through in his early 20s with the wavy hair and the monochrome outfits, things were a bit too much to handle.
The all-orange Sundays were interesting, to say the least. As he’s aged, Fowler has tightened up his style considerably, but we’ll always have forgettable memories.
24. Phil Mickelson
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The early years.Country: United States
Years on PGA Tour: 1992-present
PGA titles: 44
Highest ranking: 2
Bottom line: Phil Mickelson, not unlike his on-course persona, has gone through a few different stylistic periods over the years.
Never lacking confidence, Mickelson first showed up on tour flaunting a freshly coiffed hairdo and gold chain, but he had some rough periods in the early 2000s, sporting an oversized visor and ill-fitting pants.
These days, he’s taken some more bold steps, launching a line of long-sleeve button-down golf shirts.
23. Jason Gore
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Beware of crazy pants.Country: United States
Years on PGA Tour: 1997-present (primarily Korn Ferry Tour)
PGA titles: 1
Highest ranking: 77
Bottom line: There’s something with the bigger guys and mismatched tops and bottoms that used to be an epidemic on tour. It’s not so common anymore with the athletic style most players opt for, but Jason Gore is an exception.
He typically went with a baggy polo and sweater vest combined with tighter fitting pants. He also has been known to wear some wild-patterned pants and horizontal-striped shirts with more earth-tone colors.
The browns and whites don’t mesh together well at all, and Gore hasn’t evolved with the rest of golf fashion in the last decade.
22. Corey Pavin
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May the 'stache be with you.Country: United States
Years on PGA Tour: 1983-2006
PGA titles: 15
Highest ranking: 2
Bottom line: We could talk about Corey Pavin’s typical 1990s-esque style, with large polos, contrasting color stripes and business-man slacks. But let’s be honest, this is all about how you feel about the 'stache.
That mustache sets a style standard on its own, and not a particularly sharp one. Many of the players on Tour played homage to Pavin's mustache a couple of years ago for the FedExCup Playoffs, growing mustaches in the spirit of the four-week stretch.
But none can top that upper lip sweater Pavin sported through much of his pro career.
21. Patrick Reed
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You got a problem with this?Country: United States
Years on PGA Tour: 2011-present
PGA titles: 7
Highest ranking: 7
Bottom line: A gold chain around his neck. Baggy shirt. Black pants. And tie it all together with the snakeskin belt.
Patrick Reed was a bit of a mess stylistically when he broke in on tour, focused solely on becoming the best player in the world, leaving fashion to take a backseat.
After signing with Nike, he’s been tailored for an extreme makeover, with colors that are far more flattering.
He’s still rocking that belt, though.
20. Billy Casper
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Billy Casper at the Olympic Club in San Francisco, California, in 1966.Country: United States
Years on PGA Tour: 1955-1983
PGA titles: 51
Highest ranking: 3
Bottom line: One of the pioneers of golf instruction in the U.S., Billy Casper made contributions to the game that cannot go overlooked. Neither can his greatness.
That greatness didn’t extend to solid fashion decisions, based on his basic array of sweaters, and if he was feeling extra saucy, a sweater-vest.
Casper was a stark contrast from Gary Player or Arnold Palmer, both of whom were essential in the evolution of golf fashion.
19. Ryo Ishikawa
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Fortune favors the bold.Country: Japan
Years on PGA Tour: 2008-present (primarily Japan Golf Tour)
PGA titles: 0
Highest ranking: 29
Bottom line: A bold dresser, Ryo Ishikawa doesn't ignore fashion, but he has pushed its limits.
He’s donned all-floral outfits, sported patterned shirts with intricate detail, rocked checkered pants and committed a whole slew of other color and style clashes.
He may think of himself as a trendsetter, but the young Japanese phenom has garnered doubters in the Western golf world, both with his game and with his style choices.
18. Tommy Gainey
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Grip it and rip it.Country: United States
Years on PGA Tour: 1997-2012
PGA titles: 1
Highest ranking: 84
Bottom line: The aptly nicknamed "Tommy Two Gloves," Gainey has a built-in excuse for his look. The two gloves give him some added grip on the club. We're not buying it, and golf fans shouldn’t either.
Mostly because a good portion of the time, those two gloves were both black, which made him look like he was more likely to try and rob a bank than he was to play golf.
The two black gloves don’t work with any stylistic golf outfit. That's why Gainey is a staple in what not to do for those looking to step up their look on the course.
17. Johnny Miller
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Style points.Country: United States
Years on PGA Tour: 1969-1991
PGA titles: 25
Highest ranking: 2
Bottom line: Johnny Miller takes a lot of flak as an announcer, and it’s mostly warranted for backhanded shots at players and glorifying his already solid pro career.
However, he deserves a great deal of credit for bringing the athletic fit to modern generations. Miller always filled out his attire well and tailored down a lot of the baggy shirts and pants.
Some of those pants, though, were those typical 1970s cringe-worthy. Checkers, plaid and all other styles you might otherwise find on a couch in somebody’s living room back then.
16. Ben Curtis
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Which way to the tailgate?Country: United States
Years on PGA Tour: 2000-16
PGA titles: 4
Highest ranking: 24
Bottom line: A man well after his time, Ben Curtis looked like he belonged in a bygone age of golfers when he won the Open Championship in 2003. Straight out of the mid-1990s, he had an array of large, oversized polos and big, round sunglasses.
As he continued on in his career, Curtis would take on the team colors of local NFL franchises, notably the New England Patriots, Atlanta Falcons and Carolina Panthers, rocking full ensembles dedicated to these teams in an attempt to win over fans.
Pandering gets you nowhere.
15. Colin Montgomerie
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The power of the 'fro.Country: Scotland
Years on PGA Tour: 1988-2005 (mostly on European Tour)
PGA titles: 0
Highest ranking: 2
Bottom line: Colin Montgomerie had hair that can only be characterized as the "British afro," and his photos through the years are an evolving story of that hair.
Part Bill Walton, part Jason Segel, Montgomerie's 'do had a mind of its own for most of the 1990s, so why cover it up? Monty rocked visors regularly, and went hatless from time to time, sort of like a before-his-time-Ollie Schneiderjans.
The problem is, when you play in the winds of Europe, that hair can and will go everywhere. There’s a library of photos showing well-timed gusts jarring that hair out of whack.
14. Bubba Watson
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Years of practice.Country: United States
Years on PGA Tour: 2002-present
PGA titles: 12
Highest ranking: 2
Bottom line: Bubba Watson’s style story, much like his career, is a true tale of two halves.
He struggled to make the big tour in his 20s and early 30s. During this time, his haircut looked like Jim Carrey’s in Dumb and Dumber. He went through a few weight fluctuations, which never help, and he even experimented with a bucket hat phase.
As his game matured, so did his style. He began racking up tournament wins and carving out his own lane with athletic fits and vibrant colors. This is really a Cinderella story of golf fashion, and Watson has come a long way.
But people don’t forget.
13. Ryan Moore
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Congratulations. You are now rocking with the worst.Country: United States
Years on PGA Tour: 2005-present
PGA titles: 5
Highest ranking: 27
Bottom line: Whether it’s an attempt to class it up or a more relaxed style, Ryan Moore has never been afraid to experiment.
The former U.S. Amateur champion has played around with throwbacks here and there, wearing some button-down vests and tucked in ties. He’s also rocked the flat cap occasionally.
Moore’s wishy-washy sense of style is why he makes the cut, as he never seems comfortable in whatever he’s wearing. Evidenced by the ever-changing wardrobe.
12. Jack Nicklaus
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You can't have everything.Country: United States
Years on PGA Tour: 1961-1998
PGA titles: 73
Highest ranking: 1
Bottom line: The combination of a mustard-yellow shirt and the green-checkered pants from Jack Nicklaus’ magical 1986 run at Augusta sticks out in the minds of golf fans everywhere, but that has far more to do with the putt than the attire.
Although yellow became the trademark top for "The Golden Bear," the shirt is far from a mainstay on the course these days. Which is surprising given the number of throwbacks we see on a regular basis.
True, these players didn’t grow up watching Nicklaus, but even for those who did, the shirt didn’t catch on. It’s not hard to see why.
11. Jesper Parnevik
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The original golf punk.Country: Sweden
Years on PGA Tour: 1986-2008
PGA titles: 5
Highest ranking: 7
Bottom line: Before dissecting the decisions, motivations and overall usefulness of his look, Jasper Parnevik deserves a ton of credit for carving out a unique lane here.
Parnevik didn’t have the most illustrious career on tour, only winning a handful of times, but the man known as "Spaceman" was a staple in golf video games and well-known by golf fans all over for that up-turned hat.
It didn’t exactly catch on, and we're not sure if it provides much sun protection, but it netted him a good chunk of change in the revenue department.
So let’s call this a win.
10. Shingo Katayama
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Good times.Country: Japan
Years on PGA Tour: 1999-2013
PGA titles: 0
Highest ranking: 23
Bottom line: Shingo Katayama is one of three men on this list because of their choices in headwear. While Katayama can rock the hell out of that cowboy hat, it’s not very suitable or even really practical for the golf course.
Where he’s taken it over the edge is when he’s branched out to top hats, gold chains, visors, or wearing his typical hat with an abnormally colorful outfit.
The only person on the tour who can regularly tote this look and not catch any side eyes would be Dustin Johnson, but he’s far too stylish to dip his toe into those waters.
9. Rory Sabbatini
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Hats off. Please.Country: South Africa (Slovakia in 2019)
Years on PGA Tour: 2000-present
PGA titles: 6
Highest ranking: 8
Bottom line: We’re going to start with Rory Sabbatini’s Taylormade, custom cowboy hat. Because, there’s just so much going on here.
Sabbatini had an array of these hats custom made by Taylormade to suit almost any of his scriptings. These color schemes include black and red, blue and white, white and green, and orange and white.
When he ditched the hat later in his career, he began to pick up a few more victories. Something that cannot be considered a coincidence.
8. Woody Austin
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You don't just roll out of bed and look like this.Country: United States
Years on PGA Tour: 1995-2009
PGA titles: 4
Highest ranking: 29
Bottom line: Woody Austin is that guy you knew in college who always had a way-too-relevant message on his T-shirt at parties.
Always dressing for the occasion, Austin wears outfits that often are centered around a theme, which is an interesting way to go.
When there was no theme, Austin donned a bright polo with either a matching hat or, even worse, matching pants.
Gotta give him some credit for tracking down some of those colors, though.
7. Brooks Koepka
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Golf style is in the eye of the beholder.Country: United States
Years on PGA Tour: 2014-present
PGA titles: 20
Highest ranking: 1
Bottom line: Brooks Koepka gets away with wearing a lot of horrendous Nike gear. Although it’s the brand that pretty much launched the whole idea of golf style, there have been some stinkers recently.
For Koepka’s credit, his physique makes pretty much any of those awful shirts and hats look sharp. Maybe it’s also the fact that he’s one of the best in the world.
However, some of these winning outfits should have stayed buried deep in the closet. Nobody looks good in lime green. Nobody.
6. Billy Horschel
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View at your own risk.Country: United States
Years on PGA Tour: 2009-present
PGA titles: 5
Highest ranking: 12
Bottom line: Billy Horschel’s game is the epitome of hot and cold. He’s only won a handful of tournaments, but that includes one ridiculously hot streak in the fall to win a FedExCup.
His attire on the course may be even more hot and cold. He typically rocks bright, bright colors, often opting to show Florida Gator pride with light blues. Horschel will also don some hot pinks and vibrant green.
It’s nobody’s winning combination, but if the mission is to stand out, mission accomplished.
5. Ian Poulter
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Fore.Country: England
Years on PGA Tour: 1996-present
PGA titles: 3
Highest ranking: 5
Bottom line: The man who once claimed to be in the same class of golfer as Tiger Woods doesn’t lack confidence in his attire, either.
Ian Poulter’s wardrobe on many occasions has featured plaid pants and bright colored shirts, with his frosted hair poking out through the top of a visor.
Poulter’s biggest awe-inspiring outfit decision came during a trip to India in 2008, where he wore in a shiny gold lamé top and chocolate brown trousers while playing.
4. Duffy Waldorf
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Country: United States
Years on PGA Tour: 1987-2007
PGA titles: 4
Highest ranking: 35
Bottom line: Those who never knew him as a player probably think the name is about a fictional Irish golfer in a children’s book, but Duffy Waldorf was a solid pro in the 1990s. What wasn’t solid were his matching choices.
The pinnacle of this came with Waldorf’s all ensemble, with the hat thrown in for good measure.
These days, Waldorf is one of the more sleekly dressed players on the Champions Tour.
Guess an old dog can learn new tricks.
3. Payne Stewart
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The man, the myth, the legend.Country: United States
Years on PGA Tour: 1981-1999
PGA titles: 11
Highest ranking: 3
Bottom line: Payne Stewart’s trademark flat cap is no doubt an excellent retro accessory these days, but his attire otherwise was all over the place.
Often sporting the look of the high stirrups, or soccer-style socks, he typically tailored his outfits around their patterns.
There are some excellent throwback cringes to look at, and they’re all centered around socks and hats.
2. Nick Faldo
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Sweater pride.Country: England
Years on PGA Tour: 1977-2015
PGA titles: 9
Highest ranking: 1
Bottom line: Most golf fans know Nick Faldo for the silver-tongued analysis he provides on a semi-weekly basis during the season, the man fond of sweater vests and muted colors.
But back in his prime playing days, he was the king of argyle. Take that for what you will.
He certainly carved out his own style as a member of the golf world, and he rarely deviated, occasionally rocking an absurd sweater to garner some spotlight for bigger events.
1. John Daly
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Where do we begin?Country: United States
Years on PGA Tour: 1989-2014
PGA titles: 5
Highest ranking: 23
Bottom line: John Daly is the undisputed No. 1 worst-dressed golfer of all time.
His Loudmouth branded outfits are the talk of the week on the PGA Tour Champions. Back in his prime playing days, Daly sported less loud and more ill-fitting outfits, with the mustache to top it all off.
Staying true to himself, Daly was never one to be flashy with his outfits, which makes it so interesting how he’s embraced the Loudmouth label in his latter years.