LIV golfers have one advantage PGA Tours don’t. Well, somewhat. As per the latest update, LIV Golf players will still be allowed to wear shorts at some tournaments this year, despite initial reports suggesting pants would be mandatory all year. According to the new dress code policy, players can wear shorts on tournament days when the heat index is 90 degrees Fahrenheit or above, as well as during practice rounds and Pro-Am days. This policy kicked in after the Hong Kong tournament, with the Singapore event being the first to implement the new rule. And it seems one golf influencer agrees with the Saudi-backed league.

Speaking in an interview with Wells Adams and Chad Mumm on Scratch’s latest YouTube video, Paige Spiranac talked about ditching the traditional golf dress code, saying, “If they want to wear shorts, they should have the option to wear shorts.” She thinks the rigid rules are, well, a bit ridiculous, especially considering the sweltering conditions. “I think that is like the dumbest rule, like they are playing in like 90-plus degree weather with 100% humidity.” Spiranac believes that being more relaxed about the dress code would be a major win for the game’s growth.

“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 said. She points to Jason Day’s bold fashion choices, which are raking in the media attention. Well, Day has indeed turned heads with his outfit choices at many events and the 2024 Wells Fargo Championship. The Australian golfer, who’s had a decent season with three top-10 finishes, has become Malbon Golf’s first ambassador, and his bold fashion statements have been generating plenty of buzz. Day’s eclectic style, which includes baggy pants and vintage-inspired shirts, has drawn comparisons to Tiger Woods’s early career and Ben Hogan’s classic look.

And well, Spiranac has a supporter. Golf insider Daniel Rapaport argues that it’s time to ditch the traditional pants, pointing out that golfers are athletes who wear fitness-friendly attire, and there’s no other sport that requires pants, except maybe cricket, which isn’t exactly popular in the US. “The top tours in the world still require their players to wear pants during competition. This, of course, is silly”, he said in 2020.

But this view, Rapaport and Spiranac have, that suggests functionality over traditions may not be everyone’s cup of tea, and certainly not the Augusta officials.

Jason Day was told to tone it down for the 2025 Masters

Jason Day, the Aussie golf superstar, had to tone down his style for the Masters. It seemed Augusta National wasn’t too fond of his bold fashion choices, which wasn’t surprising given the tournament’s traditional vibe. Day, who had recently partnered with Malbon Golf, had had some seriously stylish (and some might say, seriously questionable) outfits ready to go, but the Masters organizers gave him the nod to dial it back a bit. “We kind of did, but we kind of cut everything in half,” Day said with a chuckle.

Apparently, his fashion team had to send in their designs for approval, and let’s just say they got some feedback. “I think I’m on the short list of guys that have to send their scripting in now. I get it. It was a little bit much on Thursday.”  Day’s willingness to adapt to the tournament’s rules showed he was all about the game, not just the glamour.

Last year, he had rocked some eye-catching gear, including those infamous baggy pants and a loud sweater vest that got him asked to tone it down mid-tournament. This year, he was happy to play ball and keep the focus on his golf game. “It’s good. I understand. We’re here for the tournament,” he said. “This is why we come every April. We’re here to play the tournament, and I understand. We’ll do what we can with what we have fashion-wise and enjoy playing the tournament.”

It was a fair point – after all, the Masters was about the golf, not the fashion show. Still, one couldn’t help but wonder what could have been if Day’s bold outfits had been given the green light. But what do you think? Should golf allow pros to wear shorts while playing? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below!