‘Made Me Change’: PGA Tour’s Biasness Under Fire as Rickie Fowler’s Strange Actions Forces Golf Veteran to Speak Up

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One of the biggest talking points of the Waste Management Phoenix Open this year is the outfit of Rickie Fowler. Even more than his unexpected withdrawal. The outfit he wore wasn’t his classic orange but rather made him hide in the bush. The 6-time PGA Tour winner was in a full camouflage outfit on Thursday. He gained a lot of attention for it too. One can argue that Fowler’s full camo outfit was something out of Bo Weekley’s bag.

Bo Weekley, a 3x Tour winner, in 2002, after several years of grind and hard work, qualified for the PGA Tour. It proved to be one of those memorable moments for all the wrong reasons, as during one event he wore camouflage rain pants and was told that they were not allowed by a tour official. “It’s a shame that in the mid-2000’s that @PGATOUR told me, made me, change pants because it wasn’t a color!”

Mossy Oak, an outdoor apparel company that deals with camouflage print outfits was sponsoring him at the time. For several years, Weekley was the only golfer they sponsored. “Boo is maybe a better hunter than he is a golfer. He dresses a deer better than anyone I know. And every time he says the word ‘hunting’ on CBS or NBC, it’s a win for us.” Ronald (Cuz) Strickland, a senior vice president at Mossy Oak had said long back with regards to the sponsorship.

The three-time PGA Tour winner recalled his partnership with the company. “I was sponsored by @MossyOak and @Realtree at different times. Loved both companies and how they were ran. I’m grateful for all the opportunities they gave me.”

Weekley is known for his lack of pretense on the golf course, something that is due to his upbringing. His association with camo outfits is well-known in the golfing community that after his 2013 PGA Tour victory at the Crowne Plaza Invitational, Adidas made him camouflage shoes to celebrate the victory. Weekley stated in his tweet, “But, I actually wear camo year-round still to this day, whether I’m hunting, fishing or working on my farm. But yet, I wasn’t allowed to wear it to play golf.”

And after the roaring success of his style of apparel amongst golfing fans, the 3-time PGA Tour winner started his line of clothes. “Until later when I came out with my own clothing line and even then it was just a shirt.” However, he is happy that Rickie Fowler is carrying some form of the tradition he imbibed on the Tour, “Rock it @RickieFowler head to toe!”

It’s a shame that in the mid 2000’s that @PGATOUR told me, made me, change pants because it wasn’t a color! I was sponsored by @MossyOak and @Realtree at different times. Loved both companies and how they were ran. I’m grateful for all the opportunities they gave me. But, I… https://t.co/uvIehv3IZv

— Boo Weekley (@booweekley) February 7, 2025

While Rickie Fowler’s outfit was indeed a bold choice, it is not the first time that the PGA Tour has had instances of crazy outfits on the course. It is somewhat of a usual sight on the greens.

Crazy outfits on the PGA Tour

Fan-favourite John Daly’s unique and quirky ways of dressing are quite well-known. Daly is known to be a challenger of norms and traditions and that was seen clearly at the 150th Open Championship in 2022, when he was dressed in Hooters-themed bright orange pants.

Jason Day is another big name involved in the outfit game. His association with Malbon Golf is slowly becoming iconic. Who could forget his controversial sweater at the Masters Championship in 2024 that he had to take off? His colorful sweaters aside, the Australian golfer recently got the brunt of fans’ criticisms after wearing what looked like sweatpants during the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am.

This was also not the first rodeo for Rickie Fowler as well. The Oklahoma State University alum wears a bright orange ensemble for his last day in honor of his college, drawing comparisons to Tiger Woods and his tradition of wearing red on Sundays.

What do you think of Fowler’s new outfit choice? What is your outfit choice when teeing off?

The post ‘Made Me Change’: PGA Tour’s Biasness Under Fire as Rickie Fowler’s Strange Actions Forces Golf Veteran to Speak Up appeared first on EssentiallySports.