Worst-Dressed Golfers of All Time

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.