Why are golfers wearing pink at Arnold Palmer Invitational today? Exploring the tradition, as well as what shirt Rickie Fowler is wearing.
The final day of the Arnold Palmer Invitational is set to get underway on Sunday 5 March with Kurt Kitayama holding a slender lead after Saturday’s action. It comes after Kamaiu Johnson was DQ’d under bizarre circumstances.
The American shot an even-par 72 to take a one-shot lead heading into Sunday, but Scottie Scheffler and Viktor Hovland are only a shot behind.
The quality of the chasing pack at Bay Hill with 18 holes left to play is impressive. Some of golf’s biggest names including Tyrrell Hatton, Rory McIlroy, Justin Thomas and Jordan Spieth are still all in contention.
Fans notice golfers wearing pink at Arnold Palmer Invitational today
Fans watching the action couldn’t help but notice the vibrant attire that was on display. Many wondered why so many golfers were wearing pink today at the Arnold Palmer Invitational.
The likes of Rory McIlroy, Jordan Spieth and Rickie Fowler all had pink t-shirts on:
However, some thought it was strange, or coincidental, that so many of the golfer were wearing pink on the same day.
‘Question – why are so many players pink shirts on the course today? Is it for a special day?’ one person asked.
For example, it has become tradition in recent years for Sunday of the Players Championship to turn pink to help raise awareness of breast cancer, but that isn’t the reason here.
Golfers are wearing pink today in honor of Arnold Palmer
In fact, the reason golfers are wearing pink today is in honor of Arnold Palmer himself. It has been written that the legendary golfer ‘was secure enough to wear pink before it was fashionable.’
The iconic players often wore pink on the course, and Arnie’s quintessential red cardigan has become the stuff of legend. It’s only right that golfers playing at the tournament named after him this weekend honor him the right way, by wearing pink.
Phil Mickelson even wore pink at August in 2011, saying: “I don’t wear it well. I had a premonition after spending time with Arnold Palmer, he likes to wear this color, I just had a feeling that I needed to make a move, and I had it in the bag and pulled it out.”
Rickie Fowler rocked a pink cardigan back in 2020
It also isn’t the first time players have worn pink at the Arnold Palmer Invitational. Rickie Fowler wore a pink, Arnold Palmer-inspired cardigan in 2020:
The cardigan was part of Puma’s limited-edition collection for the Arnold Palmer Invitational that year. The PUMA X ARNOLD PALMER collection was designed to honor Palmer’s legacy for years to come. Puma described the collection as “a modern take on the classic styles Mr. Palmer wore during his career, with added details that tell the story of “A Life Well Played.”
“It’s fitting,” Fowler said. “Definitely go for [Best Dressed Award].”
This year, Rickie Fowler’s cactus-inspired shirt was turning heads at Bay Hill. He was wearing the Arnold Palmer Cloudspun Palmer S Place Polo, which retails for $95: