The Masters 2019: Why does Tiger Woods always wear red on Sundays?

The 14-time major champion has become synonymous with his Sunday red polo shirt

Tom Kershaw
Sunday 14 April 2019 01:57 EDT
Comments
Top 5 Tiger Woods Moments at the PGA

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Just the thought of Tiger Woods is synonymous with his Sunday red polo shirt. The garment that became a renowned symbol of golf's most indomitable closer and possessed an aura that drummed doubt into the subconscious of his opponents. But why does Woods wear red?

The truth, in fact, as admitted to by the man himself, is that his religion to the red shirt stems in fact from the instructions of his mother, Kultida.

"I wear red on Sundays because my mum thinks that that's my power colour," Woods explained. "And you know you should always listen to your mom."

The shirt has also taken on a meaning of psychology. When Luke Donald was paired in the final group with Woods at the US PGA Championship in 2006, the Englishman had already set out his clothes for the week and planned to wear red on Sunday.

"Obviously Saturday night I knew I was playing with Tiger. I think if I changed my outfit, it was almost like giving in to him already on the first hole. It [wearing red] was nothing against Tiger. I wasn't trying to make a statement or anything. I thought if I changed it, I'd have already lost," Donald told the Associated Press.

Donald would go on to shoot a 74. Woods, meanwhile, would cruise to victory with a 68.

Woods' red polo has also inspired other players to follow suit, none more famously than 2018 champion Patrick Reed, who wears Sunday red in tribute to Woods who he has idolised ever since watching him practising on legendary instructor Hank Haney's ranch as a young boy.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in