ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates -- Golfers on the European Tour have a new item of clothing to pack in their suitcases.
The tour will allow players to wear shorts during practice rounds and pro-ams, after the policy was passed unanimously by a tournament committee in Abu Dhabi late Tuesday.
Ian Poulter backed the move Wednesday via social media.
I hope so.. It's 2016 not 1990. Get rid of the stuffy old rules that hold golf back. Make it more fun everyone. https://t.co/ekMFQJQwkD
— Ian Poulter (@IanJamesPoulter) January 20, 2016Players must still wear trousers in tournament play.
Lee Westwood and European Ryder Cup captain Darren Clarke played practice rounds in shorts Tuesday at the Abu Dhabi Championship. Westwood was among the European players to wear shorts last week at the EurAsia Cup in Malaysia.
Caddies can wear shorts on the PGA Tour, but players cannot.
However, don't expect the no-shorts policy to gravitate to the PGA Tour any time soon, even though world No. 1 Jordan Spieth would be a fan.
"I think it's awesome," Spieth told GolfWeek magazine about the change in required attire. Spieth plays in the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship this week. "It will be something that I would love to see on the PGA Tour, as well. I've not heard one person complain about it."
The PGA Tour told the magazine in a statement that they were aware of the European Tour's shift, but "the PGA Tour's policy remains unchanged. Players are required to wear long pants when playing practice, pro-am and official competition rounds."
