World No. 1 golfer Scottie Scheffler has drawn criticism from fans for his attire during a practice round at the prestigious North Berwick Golf Club, just ahead of the Genesis Scottish Open. A video clip circulating online showed Scheffler wearing sneakers, gym shorts, and a collarless t-shirt while preparing for the tournament.
While official R&A rules do not explicitly detail attire, golf clubs typically enforce strict dress codes. Traditional golfing etiquette generally requires players to wear collared shirts, golf shorts or pants, and golf shoes. North Berwick's own dress code states that "an acceptable standard of golfing attire should be worn" and specifically prohibits "jeans, track suits, cargo shorts, t-shirts and similar."
The perceived breach of these standards led to a wave of reactions on social media. Fans expressed disappointment, with some questioning the leniency shown to the reigning Open champion. Comments ranged from "Must admit, it's not a good look" to "you need to respect the traditions of the game when playing a course like North Berwick."
This incident occurs as the R&A prepares to host The Open Championship next week, for which Scheffler is the defending champion. The R&A recently introduced "The Open Commitment," a new code of conduct that "encourages everyone attending to play their part in protecting traditions," according to the BBC. R&A chief executive Mark Darbon emphasized the importance of "shared respect for the players, the course, fellow fans and the traditions of the Championship."
Scheffler is scheduled to compete in the Genesis Scottish Open at the Renaissance Club, which begins Thursday, before heading to The Open Championship next week. The golfer had recently debuted a new shaved head hairstyle.
