TROON - In a sport renowned for loud trousers, perhaps the loudest of them all have caused the biggest controversy on the first three days of the British Open golf tournament.
The strides in question were a $505 pair in the colours of the Union Jack worn by effervescent Englishman Ian
Poulter, who has not been shy about sporting pink and orange in the past, and dyeing his hair red and white in support of his beloved Arsenal soccer team.
But on day one the outrageous red, white and blue Union Jack slacks, which could be spotted three fairways away, and dominated the front pages of Britain's newspapers, had some of the venerable Royal Troon members choking on their gin and tonics.
Club captain Arthur Dunsmuir was definitely not amused.
"There is no specific rule banning that style of trousers. However, having said that, we wouldn't wish to encourage that type of attire," he said.
Another member was quoted as saying: "If it had been any other week of the year he wouldn't have got through the gates dressed like that."
So yesterday, Poulter opted to tone it down in the interests of diplomacy before he teed off at the ungodly hour of 6.30am.
Instead it was a conventional pair of golfing plus-fours, no garish design and it caused no audible gasps of horror from within the brick clubhouse beside the 18th green.
"I didn't think at 6.30am there would be enough people about to actually go outrageous," Poulter said after carding a second round 72 to comfortably make the cut.
"They were only a pair of trousers and I am willing to take them off and play in boxer shorts. I think that would be a little more outrageous.
"It is good fun, that's all it is."
- NZPA
