The Four Categories of Fashionable Males You’ll See at Every Golf Tournament

Words by our resident country club correspondent Jim Ryan.

I once heard someone say at a golf tournament that you can spot the European players all the way down the fairway because of the way they dress. Indeed, it seems that most golfers can be grouped into one of four distinct sartorial classifications. Here they are, and what they can tell you about a golfer.

Look: The gentleman jock

Prime example: Tiger Woods

Other examples: Phil Mickelson, Geoff Ogilvy, Anthony Kim

Typical clothier: Nike

Common accessories: Swooshes, biceps, top-20 ranking

Key characteristics: The gentleman jock is usually dressed pretty well -- often in dark slacks and a bright shirt. However, function is as important as form. These golfers wear fabrics that “maximize evaporation” and use “comfort technology for reduced bulk and weight.” It helps to be fit when rocking this look, as the clothes tend to be trim but not tight.

Look: The prep

Prime example: Davis Love III

Other examples: Luke Donald, Adam Scott, Lorena Ochoa

Typical clothier: Polo

Common accessories: Saddle shoes, visor, Rolex sponsorship

Key characteristics: The look most commonly associated with golf, it includes lots of pastels, argyle, sweater vests and animal emblems on shirts. Relatively classic (and expensive), it can be pulled off by players both young and old.

Look: The international

Prime example: Camilo Villegas

Other examples: Sergio Garcia, Ian Poulter, Shingo Katayama

Typical clothier: J. Lindberg

Common accessories: Bad hair, white belt, legions of female fans

Key characteristics: These golfers’ clothes are tight and bright. There’s a high degree of color coordination -- often, the putter grip even matches the player’s shirt (I wish I were joking). Your average American duffer would look fairly ridiculous in these threads, and they probably violate his country club’s dress code in some manner.

Look: The "who cares? I’m golfing"

Prime example: Chad Campbell

Other examples: Steve Stricker, Boo Weekley, Ben Curtis

Typical clothier: Again, who cares?

Common accessories: Beer gut, male pattern baldness, lack of recognition from casual fans

Key characteristics: The preferred look of the American everyman, it typically includes plain, baggy pants and shirts. In Weekley's case, camouflage may be incorporated. These players dress for comfort and let their golf do the talking. They're all rich and have hot wives anyway, so who cares how they look on the course?

This post originally appeared on the Sporting Blog. For more, see The Sporting Blog Archives.