Lee Westwood would have the support of Tiger Woods after complaining about having to wear trousers again. Golf legend Woods has remained loyal to the American-run tour amidst the sport's civil war that started in 2022 with the launch of LIV.
This Saudi-backed rebel tour has revolutionised golf's traditional rules with shotgun starts, three rounds instead of four and no cuts. LIV has also relaxed the game's conservative dress code, allowing players to wear shorts during tournaments.
In contrast, all other top-level events, such as this weekend's US World Senior Open, require players to wear trousers, which has been an annoyance for LIV player Lee Westwood. Before the tournament, the former European Ryder Cup hero was asked how he would adapt to playing 72 holes rather than 54 again.
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However, the 51-year-old, who was tied 16th on three-under-par after two rounds, eight shots off the lead, seemed more concerned about having to wear trousers. He said: "I think I can manage it [72 holes]. It's playing in trousers that's bothering me more. 72 holes won't be a problem.
"Like I say, it's looking down and seeing my legs in trousers. I prefer to get my legs out.
"If you notice, most of the guys wear shorts in practice. You can see how many people are comfortable, especially when it gets a bit warm putting a pair the shorts on."
Woods has previously voiced his support for a more relaxed dress code in the sweltering heat of many tournaments, saying back in 2018: "I would love it. We play in some of the hottest climates on the planet.
"We usually travel with the sun, and a lot of our events are in the summer, and then on top of that when we have winter months here, a lot of the guys will go down to South Africa and Australia where it's summer down there."
"A lot of the tournaments are based right around the equator, so we play in some of the hottest places on the planet. It would be nice to wear shorts. Even with my little chicken legs, I still would like to wear shorts."
PGA Tour stars have to wear trousers and aren't allowed to wear shorts when competing due to a strict dress code policy, though the guideline was altered in 1999 to enable players to wear shorts during Pro-Am and practice rounds.
