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Masters 2024: Former Masters champ tees off Augusta National in sneakers (!) once again
Maddie Meyer
Times are a-changin’ at the Masters. AI commentary. Hoodies in the merch tent. Dude Perfect raiding Amen Corner. It’s clear the folks at Augusta National are set on keeping up with the times, and Vijay Singh is doing his part to help them out.
The 2000 Masters champion is wearing sneakers (gasp!) yet again this year at Augusta National. No, they're not golf shoes designed to look casual and sporty. Full on, without a doubt, sneakers.
David Cannon
Here's the look from last year:
Still skeptical? Last December at the PNC Championship, Singh was asked by a reporter about his interesting shoe choice.
Q. I had the pleasure of playing with you in the Pro-Am, a great time but I was blown away by your shoe choice. Can you run us through what you're wearing? Is it a golf shoe?
Singh: “This is HOKA trail shoes. I have a problem with had I foot and I cannot really play with anything else that hurts.”
Q. It's a hiking shoe?
Singh: “Running shoes, yeah.”
Q. No slippage out here?
Singh: “No slippage, and it feels good. It hurts but it feels better than if I wore golf shoes.”
We have to hand it to the three-time major champ for being honest. And hey, we can’t argue with the performance—Vijay and son Qass took the title that week at the parent-child championship. That, however, was at a resort course in Orlando. A Ritz-Carlton, we concede, but this is Augusta National, where business casual might just be a little too casual.
Forget about style, Singh claims “no slippage” in the running shoes, but what about at Augusta, where, yes, the slopes and elevation changes are bigger in person than on TV? Throw in some wet weather that rolled through the area on Thursday morning, and the former World No. 1 is really testing those … spikes?
For what it's worth, Singh made the turn in his second round in 34 during very difficult, windy conditions on Friday—leaving him at 3-over for the tournament. With a projected cut at 4-over right now, Singh has a decent shot at making the weekend. Really solid stuff for a 61-year-old.
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