Fashion Insider: Mediate's game rises above understated look
By Man in the Black Hat, PGATOUR.COM Fashion Insider
For the Man In The Black Hat, the true essence of the game of golf is revealed to him on a semi-regular basis, specifically when the golf marketing jungle has clouded his vision to a point at which brands, be they of the apparel or equipment variety, seem to become more alluring than the game itself.
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Such was the case on Sunday at the Frys.com Open at the CordeValle Golf Club in San Martin, Calif. -- where Rocco Mediate took center stage against a backdrop that looked very much as if it was pulled from "Sideways," the 2004 film in which the characters played by Paul Giamatti and Thomas Hayden Church take their own journey of self-discovery through California wine country. (In the place of Giamatti we found one Rocco Mediate, flanked by Church in form of caddy Matthew Achatz.)
Mediate and Achatz have been taking a journey of their own, one that has led Mediate to rediscover his game, adorned very much like that single who may have joined your group three or four weeks ago on a drizzly and cool Sunday morning. With his black ball cap twisted slightly askew to the right, Mediate looked completely comfortable and dry in a souvenir half-sleeved 2010 U.S. Open rain shirt (much like this one on offer for the 2011 U.S. Open at Congressional). This "souvenir" trend seems to becoming all the rage these days.
No longer does Mediate sport the familiar Callaway mark on his apparel (nor does he carry their clubs), with which we became accustomed thanks in large measure to his epic 18-hole playoff duel with Tiger Woods for the 2008 U.S. Open at Torrey Pines. Despite the lack of brand presence, and the absence of a TOUR-style bag, Mediate's game rose to similar heights last week, proving that the clothes do not make the man.
Mediate is now brand agnostic, and though being guilty of sizing up both his shirts and trousers, he gives us pause to realize that golf is about holing out in as few strokes as possible, regardless of what we're wearing, or how we look wearing it. As the old saying goes, the ball doesn't know who's hitting it -- or what they're wearing.
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Rickie Fowler was back in his true element this week, having recently spent some time outside of his apparel comfort zone at the Ryder Cup. For those who think neither Puma Golf nor Rickie can do anything outside the neon color spectrum, the Man In The Black Hat enters this into evidence, from Friday's second round.
While most rain gear tends to stay neutral, favoring black, grey, white, and even boring old beige, leave it to Puma Golf to help Fowler stay on Oklahoma State script in his traditional Sunday orange, despite the raindrops. ...
For the belt junkies out there -- and you know who you are -- here's a glimpse, fleeting though it is, of Alex Prugh's custom creation by 59belts. ...
There was a bucket / outback hat sighting in the second round at the Frys.com Open, courtesy of Rory Sabbatini. ...
If we ever need to remind ourselves of how clothes should fit, for golf or otherwise, look no further than Ryuji Imada. In Cutter and Buck no less. Who knew? ...
The Man In The Black Hat thought he could count David Duval among the brand agnostic at the Frys.com Open. Formerly of Nike, Duval and the swoosh recently parted company, but he was spied wearing apparel from Iliac Golf this week. TheIliac Golf blog confirms it, though it seems no formal agreement is in place. ...
Keep an eye out for the Champions Tour "pink out" this Saturday at the Administaff Small Business Classic in support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. ...
The Man In The Black Hat needs your help! With a cold and wet autumn upon him and a long white winter looming, your help is needed in order to recommend the best outerwear / rain gear based on your experience to get him through what's left of the golf season in Canada.
The Man in the Black Hat is a freelance columnist for PGATOUR.COM. His views do not necessarily represent the views of the PGA TOUR.
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