Moore, a logo-less man, feels comfortable with new look

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Ryan Moore is creating his own style on the PGA TOUR these days.

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- In a world where corporate logos and sponsorships of all sorts adorn every player's cap, shirt and bag, Ryan Moore looks more like a weekend hacker rather than a member of the PGA TOUR.

From head to toe, there's not one speck of sponsorship on him. Even Moore's bag is as plain as yours or mine, a simple kelly green-and-blue leather bag he ordered off the Internet because, "it's kind of Seahawks colors, and I'm from the Seattle area.''

That doesn't explain why Moore has been wearing, for the most part, button-down shirts and ties this season. Nor does it clear up why Moore is wearing what looks like tennis shoes into competition rather than traditional golf spikes.

But the new and different appearance certainly is drawing a lot of stares and finger-pointing, as well as lots of questions from the media.

"I just wanted to get back to playing golf first, and not worrying about the sponsors,'' said Moore, 26, who is among the leaders after two rounds of the FBR Open after posting a 4-under-par 67 on Friday to move to 6-under 136, or two shots behind clubhouse leader, Nick Watney.

"Some of that stuff can get in your way and I just wanted to concentrate on golf and golf only... It's weird how you put on something different and everybody takes notice, but I like that old school look.''

Moore is the talk of the galleries this week -- and broadcasters, too. For instance, CBS funny man Gary McCord quipped that Moore looked like a cross between, "Ellen DeGeneres and Justin Timberlake.''

"Yeah, I heard (McCord) and I thought it was pretty funny,'' Moore said. "I guess he came up with Ellen DeGeneres because of the tennis shoes, and Justin Timberlake for the tie...

"Truthfully, I have no idea where this might lead me, but I'm very happy and very comfortable with it.''

Moore also is pretty happy with his golf game, which included four birdies in five holes coming down the TPC Scottsdale's closing stretch. In all, he made six birdies to offset two bogeys.

"I like where I'm at -- two solid rounds of golf,'' said Moore, who had three rounds in the 60s last week at the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic hosted by Arnold Palmer but missed the cut due to a sky-high 77 in Round 2.

"(Friday) was just one of those days where it was nothing too flashy, I just kind of got it in the hole.''

That was about the only question Moore answered concerning his play, as most inquiries focused solely on how he could afford to turn down hundreds of thousands of dollars in potential sponsorships to do things his way.

"I bought these shoes -- and they do have golf spikes on the bottom of them, honest. But everything you see on me, as well as my bag, were paid for by me; they weren't free,'' said Moore, who also is playing a mixed bag of clubs -- "quite the assortment'' -- that includes Titleist wedges and putter, Callaway irons, an Adams driver and hybrid, and a 3-wood by PING, his former club sponsor.

"I was with PING since the beginning, forever, and it wasn't a bad thing with PING,'' he said of negotiations that broke down short of a new contract in the off-season. "And I do still have a Callaway ball and glove deal that I signed last year.

"But mostly this is just me, and how long it lasts, well, it could change shortly, or it might not... You guys (the media) seem to know more than me (about potential deals).''

There are drawbacks, Moore said. Like now he has to do his own shopping.

"Where did I get this cardigan (sweater)?'' he asked rhetorically. "I don't know where I got it. I was just out looking for sweaters without a logo, and came up with this.''

Fortunately for Moore, there are a lot more men's department stores in his new hometown of Scottsdale than in his former haunt in Las Vegas.

"I bought a home here in Scottsdale last March and finally moved in November,'' said Moore, who has been a runner-up on four different occasions during his four seasons on the PGA TOUR, where he is closing in on $5 million in career earnings.

"I left Vegas because it's too windy. (Scottsdale) is a great city, and I love it. It's like playing indoors every day.''

And should he break through Sunday to make the FBR Open his first win on the PGA TOUR, it would make his new home only that much sweeter.