« A Fashionable Fifth? »

Golf pundits have consistently wanted to crown The Players Championship as golf's 'fifth major' based on strength of field. However, since Pete Dye's overhaul of TPC Sawgrass in 2007 and the tournament's subsequent move to a May date, there is growing sentiment among players that the one-time fifth major is becoming little more than a regular tour event.

This makes it difficult for us to get too excited, especially if receptive greens mean fewer balls get rinsed on the island green 17th. Fortunately, Chapeau Noir can always find hidden gems to entertain us within the most lowly of tour events.

For example, Ian Poulter, who consistently takes his kit to the next level through his colorways and accessories, has been the crowning jewel of the first two days at TPC.

On Thursday, Poulter went with a canary yellow ensemble, that you'd think would be off limits since Sergio Garcia's yellow debacle at the Open Championship a few years ago. In typical Poulter style though, Ian makes it work.

Ian Poulter wore canary yellow on Thursday, followed by blue tartan on Friday. (Photos by Richard Heathcote & Sam Greenwood/Getty Images North America)

On Friday Poulter sported blue tartan trousers, and gave a lesson in how to accessorize to the hilt in a blue snakeskin belt, blue FootJoy Icons. Poulter certianly keeps FootJoy and Oakley reps busy.

Rickie Fowler, subdued and therefore predictably more palatable in Puma. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images North America)Poster boy Rickie Fowler won't be around for the weekend, but his Puma costume was much less offensive than usual on Friday, mixing in the Puma Cell Fusion Special Edition shoes.

While another excellent golf fashion blog has a problem with how Johan Edfors wears le grand chat, Chapeau Noir has always felt that Edfors had the right Euro flair intangibles - the three day scruff and the intentionally unintentional untucked shirt - that lends itself particularly to Puma. 

On the other hand, Fowler comes across more like a fully rendered three dimensional character from the digitally animated version of High School Musical - flawless to a fault.

Tiger Woods may have been in need of an intervention for bigger reasons in the past six months, but someone at Nike needs to organize a trouser intervention. A trimmer trouser with a full top pocket, along with a better game, would go a long way to making Woods watchable once again.

CNG Ticker: There is yet another golf apparel company to watch from Canada. New entrant Votary Golf emphasizes form fitting lines to enhance your look, and your game. Chapeau Noir is in touch with the gents behind Votary Golf and will have more in the coming weeks... 59 Belts has another buckle design contest on the go, this time for PGA Tour pro Chris Wilson... On the alternative golf shoe front, CNG reader BBowenSF brought the Croc-like Dawgs to our attention, along with the now defunct alt-shoe option Cyclonic, which can still be found for purchase lurking around the internets on closeout.