The competitive story after the first round of the U.S. Open was undoubtedly that two relative unknowns, Justin Hicks and Kevin Streelman, sat atop the leaderboard at three under par. And the focus of fans and media alike more or less revolved around the Big Three grouping of Tiger, Phil and Adam Scott. What compelled me to the keypad, however, was seeing PGA Tour professional Bob Tway caddying for his son, Kevin, an amateur qualifier and first-time U.S. Open participant.
Pops, a former winner on this course, surely lent expertise as his son managed his way to a respectable four-over 75. The fairy tale ending has them walking up the 18th green on Sunday afternoon, Father’s Day, with Kevin near the lead. But the backstory is already noteworthy.
Bob Tway was trying to get into this Open himself, but after the first round of qualifying, with his son also contending, Bob abandoned his effort in order to caddie for Kevin for his final rounds…and it worked! Less poignant — but worth mentioning — is what Bob was wearing Thursday. Hold your breath golf officials….SHORTS!
Shorts arede rigueurfor caddies who lug 40-pound bags daily over 18 holes in the hot sun of PGA Tour schedule. For professionals, Tour officials don’t explicitly state a reason for their ban on shorts, but the rules are written and are perfectly clear. The USGA’s Personal Appearance clause for the 108th U.S. Open Championship at Torrey Pines reads like this:
In sectional qualifying and the Championship proper, players must be neat in appearance with respect to clothing and personal grooming. The committee in charge decides whether this criteria has been met, and has the authority to withdraw the entry of a player who does not comply. The wearing of short pants is prohibited in the Championship proper but is permissible in Local and Sectional qualifying providing the host club does not have a dress code prohibiting such.
Forrest Fezler became a famous footnote (try sayingthatthree times fast) for his flouting of this wardrobe standard when he did a Superman-esque quick change in a port-a-potty on the 18th hole of the ’83 Open at Oakmont.
Since then, however, no pro events that we know of has borne witness to the sight of male golfers’ bare legs. The gender distinction is important because on the LPGA Tour as of late, all types of body parts have been visible — and I can’t say I mind one bit. As the players have become more competitive and younger and in better physical shape (not necessarily in that order), the styles have become bolder and more daring. Such is the way of the world.
So why aren’t men allowed to show off their improved physiques? One line of reasoning goes: They are called professional golfers so they are supposed to comport themselves professionally. Well from my vantage point, Bob Tway, a relative Tour elder, proved you can both look fit and fashionable in shorts within the acceptable "criteria" for Championship play – minus the caddies bib of course. — RW
