Paige Spiranac has once again criticized the PGA Tour’s dress code, labeling the ban on shorts during competition “the dumbest rule” and urging officials to modernize the sport’s image.
Paige Spiranac wants to see shorts on the PGA Tour(Image: (Image: Getty Images))
Golf sensation Paige Spiranac has slammed the PGA Tour’s strict dress code, labeling the shorts ban during competitions as “the dumbest rule” and calling for a more modern image for the sport.
She’s not alone in her sentiments; Brooks Koepka, now enjoying his time on the LIV Golf circuit, has also shown his support for a more relaxed dress code.
During a candid chat on Scratch’s YouTube channel with hosts Wells Adams and Chad Mumm, Spiranac expressed her exasperation over the restrictive dress code, particularly in light of the sweltering heat that players often face—a sentiment echoed by golf legend Tiger Woods.
Spiranac argued, “If they want to wear shorts, they should have the option to wear shorts,” pointing out the absurdity of the rule when players are battling temperatures in the 90s with high humidity.
She contends that giving players the freedom to choose their attire could help draw a wider audience to golf.
Her comments came after the grueling conditions at the 2023 PGA Tour’s FedEx St. Jude Championship, where champion Lucas Glover was seen cooling his hands in ice to deal with the oppressive heat.
Tiger Woods called for the Tour to lift the ban(Image: (Image: Getty Images))
Spiranac underscored the severity of the situation, noting, “The guys were absolutely dying. They were even sticking their hands in the ice coolers to bring their body temperature down.”
While the PGA Tour sticks to its classic dress code, LIV Golf has loosened up, allowing players to don shorts in tourneys when the mercury hits 90 degrees Fahrenheit or above. This cool new rule kicked in post-Hong Kong tournament, with Singapore being the first to roll it out.
Spiranac is convinced that the PGA Tour’s old-school vibe might be cramping golf’s style. “I think allowing the players to show more of their personality and expressing themselves through their fashion and style will bring more people into the game,” she opined.
“You’re saying that in the air conditioning on your nice, cool couch, drinking an ice-cold beer. Of course, you don’t mind. But these guys are athletes playing in extreme conditions. Let them wear shorts,” Spiranac clapped back.
Spiranac’s take has won her nods from fans and pros alike. Back in 2020, golf guru Daniel Rapaport was already on board, saying, “The top tours in the world still require their players to wear pants during competition. This, of course, is silly.”