Let these early Players photos remind you how far golf style has come

With so much discussion about how golf has evolved in areas like equipment and fitness, we've overlooked just how much progress golf -- and really society as a whole -- has made in the style arena. For proof, we give you the Players Championship in the 1980s and '90s.

23 Mar 1993: Nick Price swings during the Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra, Florida.

Photo by Getty Images

Golf shirts in the '80 and '90s often defied description. Like this one from Joel Edwards.

Or this Nick Price situation.

Greg Norman was always good for some bold shirts.

As long as it didn't distract from his mesh cowboy hat.

When it comes to mesh cowboy hats, by the way, 1994 at Sawgrass was a high water mark. Norman won the Players in record fashion with one in March.

And then some other guy won the U.S. Amateur there wearing his version that August.

Other players had their own headwear looks. Duffy Waldorf favored floral patterns.

While Ian Baker-Finch was big on the visor.

And we'll always give props to the well-maintained mullet.

And speaking of business up front, party in the back, sometimes no hat is the best solution of all. Just ask John Daly.

Fred Couples was sort of the patron saint of the early '90s puffy shirt.

But as Colin Montgomerie proved, it's not as though he had exclusive rights.