 |
It’s not easy being green. Especially emerald green in a world of earth tone clothing. So Masters champ Trevor Immelman has traded in his wardrobe for one that favors his prized jacket.
|
CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA (Sportsman’s Daily Wire Service) 2008 Masters champion Trevor Immelman was helped into his green jacket by last year’s champ Zach Johnson after winning the Grand Slam event at Augusta National last weekend. But now the South African is back home and faces the very real dilemma winners have confronted for twenty years – what to wear with it.
“When Jack (Nicklaus) and Tom (Watson) were playing, it was no big deal,” said the twenty-eight year old Immelman. “They had those fashion train wreck tight, checkered lime green, and pink pants in those days. But since dignified fashion entered golf in the mid 80’s, that damn jacket has stood out like an eight hundred pound gorilla – granted, a very valuable eight hundred pound gorilla.”
The fabled green jacket has been awarded since 1949 and has confounded golfers for years. “We really lost our way in the 70’s,” said Billy Payne, Chairman of Augusta National. “But at least the dang jacket looked good with plaid pants. Now, it’s tough –
really tough to get anything to go with it. Unless you go out and buy a bunch of lemon meringue colored pants.”
That’s exactly what Immelman has done.
“I’ve tossed out everything,” said Immelman. “My Dockers, my Dickies, my Wrangler stone washed jeans – nothing goes with that jacket, so now I’ve got nothing but yellow pants. Tradition says we can only wear the jacket once, then we have to return it, but like my countryman Gary Player, I’m keeping it. But I want to look good, instead of like a schlemiel.”
Player, who won the event in 1961 didn’t return his green jacket but swore he only wore it once, keeping with tradition.
But Immelman is breaking tradition. “With Tiger out there, you think I’m ever going to get another chance at this?” said Immelman. “I want to get the most out of my moment. I want to wear that green jacket to every event, every family function, you name it.”
“It’s his call,” added Payne. “The tradition of returning the green jacket isn’t etched in stone, but he’s going to look pretty foolish driving a silver sports car.” |
