Players now allowed to wear shorts in practice, pro-am rounds

A change in the PGA TOUR’s Player Appearance guidelines will allow players to wear golf shorts during practice and pro-am rounds, effective immediately. The change applies only to tournaments operated on the six tours under the PGA TOUR umbrella. This week’s two TOUR events, the World Golf Championships-Mexico Championship and the Puerto Rico Open, will be the first tournaments to offer players the apparel option. Newly elected PGA TOUR Player Advisory Council (PAC) Co-Chairman James Hahn informed his fellow pros in a message delivered on Monday. Per the guideline, shorts must be knee-length, tailored and neat in appearance. Compression leggings worn underneath shorts must be solid in color. Long pants remain required for all official competition rounds. The PGA of America has allowed players to wear shorts during practice rounds at the PGA Championship the last two years. The European Tour initiated their shorts-wearing policy for practice rounds in 2016. In 1999, caddies on the PGA TOUR were first allowed to wear shorts during competition days. Monday’s announcement follows many years of discussion. Players, fans, sponsors and tournaments provided positive feedback to allow the wearing of shorts during non-competition days. Tiger Woods was asked last year during a Facebook Live interview for his view on the topic. “I would love it,� Woods responded. “We play in some of the hottest climates on the planet. We usually travel with the sun, and a lot of our events are played in the summer.� Others have previously addressed the issue. “It makes the guys a lot more comfortable,� Rory McIlroy said. “… I don’t think there’s anything wrong with professional golfers showing the lower half of their leg.�

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