Sports Then and Now

Arnold Palmer set fashion trends in golf with his short sleeve polo and slacks.

Throughout the ages popular professional golfing figures have been firmly sticking to or openly defying the strict dress codes enforced on the golf course. Check out this run down of golf’s greatest conformers and rebels before deciding which way you swing with golf fashion and then picking up some great clothing for your next round at Bunker Mentality.

Arnold Palmer, widely regarded as one of the greatest players in the history of men’s professional golf, has won numerous titles for his incredible golfing skills. He is also, however, remembered for his preferred dress of a short sleeve polo shirt and khaki trousers which, whilst originally frowned upon for its rather dressed down and casual look, soon become the standard golfing attire of the day. His fashion choice made such an impact that in fact this style of dressing has remained as the staple for the past fifty years and is still commonly seen on courses across the globe today.

Payne Stewart was a pro golf player from America who has eleven PGA titles to his name. His take on the traditional 20’s style golf fashion of knickers, high socks and a newsboy cap combined with garish eighties prints led him to become easily recognizable on the course. Half traditional conformist, half contemporary rebel he meshed these seemingly opposite sides of a coin together to create his own unique golf style. He was truly an individual who was never afraid to wear exactly what he wanted and that kind of confidence is killer.
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Cheyenne Woods is part of the next generation of LPGA stars.

While the world watched a varied mix of male and female athletes from countries across the world competing for the ultimate glory at last year’s Olympic Games in London, it’s hard to think of a professional sport that’s not dominated by men. Though increasing numbers of women enjoy such traditionally male-centric sports as football, motor racing, ice hockey and basketball and compete more than competently at a professional level, the focus of the world’s sports enthusiasts remains solely centred on men.

For a long time, it’s been the same for one of the most traditionally-minded sports around – golf. Indeed, on the more conservative edges of the sport, you still might find men-only clubs – albeit a tiny number around 1%. Yet things are shaking up for women who play the game in a big way.

Take, for example, one famous name – Cheyenne Woods, niece of none other than the legendary Tiger. She’s 24 years old – the same age her famous uncle was when he finished the season with eight wins – and the daughter of Tiger Woods’ half-brother, Earl Dennison Woods Jr. Like many a famous relative, she’s eager to step out of the shadow of the family name and make her own name for herself in women’s professional golf. Having grown up surrounded by golf, and coached in the sport by Tiger’s father Earl, she already has more than 30 amateur titles to her name. Now she faces her first full pro season, having entered the prestigious Ladies European Tour.

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Phil Mickelson celebrates his come-from-behind victory at the 2013 British Open.

With his come-from-behind victory at the British Open, Phil Mickelson joined an elite group as the 17th man in golf history to win three different major championships during his career.

Considering that earlier this year Mickelson finished second at the U.S. Open for a record sixth time, it is almost tempting to consider him the seventh person to win the career grand slam.

However, that accomplishment will have to wait until next year when the U.S. Open returns to Pinehurst, which was the site of the Open when Mickelson finished second for the first time in 1999.

Of those who won three different majors, the legend with whom Mickelson has the most in common in American Sam Snead.

Snead won seven major titles during his career, but was never able to win the U.S. Open. He finished second on four occasions during 31 attempts (there was no tournament between 1942-1945 when Snead was in his early 30s and was just reaching his prime).

After finishing second at the U.S. Open in his first appearance in the tournament in 1937, Snead finished in the top 10th again in 1939 and in the top 20 in 1940 and 1941. When the tournament returned following World War II, Snead finished tied for 19th in 1946, then second in 1947, fifth in 1948 and tied for second again in 1949. Read the rest of this entry →

Padraig Harrington will be looking for his third British Open title.

Padraig Harrington believes that his recent form is so good that he could be the man to beat at next week’s Open Championship at Royal Lytham and St Anne’s.

The Irishman rose to number three in the world after winning the US PGA Championship at Oakland Hills, in 2008, but he has since slipped down the rankings, after he decided to revamp his swing.

Unfortunately, all his hard work has failed to pay off and, having won just once since his last Major triumph, he has regularly admitted that he may be trying too hard to improve.

However, after cutting down on his marathon practice sessions, he appears to have rediscovered some of his old magic in 2012, and has finished in the top-10 at both the Masters and the US Open, this year.

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Hale Irwin

The June Sports Then and Now Vintage Athlete of the Month if one of only six men in history to win at least three United States Golf Open Championships, with his third victory being an improbable victory in 1990 at the age of 45.

In fact, when Hale Irwin claimed his third U.S. Open title following an improbable 45-foot birdie on the 72nd hole and then a playoff victory over Mike Donald, it had been more than five years since he had last won a PGA tournament. Read the rest of this entry →

Jose Maria Olazabal - The last European to win the "Green Jacket" in 1999.

Despite the fact that the US Masters is still a couple of months away, the start of the new season in Golf means that players will be looking to fine tune their games ahead of the first “major” of the year, the US Masters, and with European players occupying the top four places in the World rankings currently, the question is whether a European can finally win the “Green Jacket”, some 13 years after the last!

It seems an eternity since Jose Maria Olazabal last won what is arguably the sport’s most prestigious tournament. His win in 1999 added to his first win at Augusta in 1994 and came after Sir Nick Faldo’s third triumph in the event in 1996. Other European winners of the Masters in a golden era for players from across the Atlantic included the late, Seve Ballesteros, who won it twice in 1980 & 1983. German, Bernard Langer, also won two “Green Jacket’s” in 1985 and then eight years later in 1993. Sandy Lyle became the first ever British winner in 1987 and while Faldo followed him with back to back wins in 1989 & 1990, it was Welshman, Ian Woosnam who took the title in 1991. However, despite recent European winners of the other three “Majors”, the Masters has seemingly become elusive for Europe’s top players.

Of course, Rory McIlroy had the 2011 Masters when he took a four shot lead into the final round but the young Ulsterman imploded early on the Sunday and his chance was very quickly gone. As we know, he made some amends a few weeks later when winning the US Open but losing the “Green Jacket” will still sit heavy on his shoulders and McIlroy will be out to avenge that final round performance in April and he is arguably Europe’s best chance of ending the 13 year wait. Read the rest of this entry →