Fashion Insider: Watson on his fun on-course style

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Watson says the Travis Mathew line that he wears is the "perfect complement" to his personal style.

With the 2012 PGA TOUR season just weeks away, the Man In The Black Hat thought it to be a good time to bring the fashion file up to date, starting with an examination of the style exploits of Bubba Watson.

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Watson isn't one to shy away from getting creative on the golf course, shaping shots left, right, high, and low with almost every swing, and it's a trait that extends to the clothing choices he makes -- right down to his pink socks. Upon closer examination, we find that Watson's style choices not only help him look good, but feel good as well -- a feeling that comes not just from fabric, but from a greater sense of community.

Q: When most people look at what a TOUR player is wearing, they naturally look to what's most visible. But if you were to choose any one apparel item that impacts your play more than any other, what would it be?

WATSON: That's a hard question. Obviously I wear Travis Mathew for a reason. The team over there is great and it's a perfect complement to my personal style. Plus, I work with them to create pieces designed specifically for me, which is a lot of fun. I also love my KENTWOOL socks, they're so comfortable! I rock the pink ones both on and off the course. I even got a few other guys hooked.

Q: Ah, the lowly sock! Lowly only because of its position in relation to the ground of course, but what exactly is it about a sock that makes you choose it over all over all manner of foot covering that isn't classified as a shoe?

WATSON: These aren't just socks, they are way better. I think the key is the super fine wool. It doesn't seem right, wool keeping you cool, but they do. The weather can be hot or cold, but my feet stay one temperature the whole round. I also like the fact it's like walking on pillows and I never get abrasions or blisters because of how they're engineered. Mark (Kent, KENTWOOL's CEO) and the team have really done their homework. There are plenty of things to worry about while competing on TOUR and your feet shouldn't be one of them.

Q: Having a great product is one thing, but how important is it to you that the companies you're associated with are good citizens as well?

WATSON: Honestly, that is one of the most important things to me. Travis Mathew does a lot for charity and I love KENTWOOL's story. Each sock is made entirely in the USA. It's a family-owned textile company that's been around for almost 200 years, that's impressive. They're clearly experts in the sock arena. Aside from that, I love knowing I'm helping support a business that keeps everything here in America. Rickie (Fowler), Angie (Bubba's wife) and I've been to the plant in Greenville (South Carolina), spent time with Mark and the employees. The people there love what they do and it shows in the product.

Q: A year ago at the Hyundai Tournament of Champions in Hawaii, you wore a cool-looking Travis Mathew polo that incorporated suspenders into its design. How much fun do you have wearing something different, something that makes you stand out a little bit?

WATSON: I think everyone knows I'm all about having fun. Have you seen my music video? It's great to be able to express my personality through clothing, whether it's something as bold as my U.S. Open camo, or as simple as my pink KENTWOOLs peeking out below my pant leg.

Obviously, more guys are focusing on being fashion-forward and it is good for the sport. It brings more attention and allows us to shatter the perception of fat guys in plaid pants. Now, I guess its skinnier guys in cooler-looking pants,

Q: The Golf Boys and the Oh, Oh, Oh video raised lots of money for the Ben Crane's charitable initiatives, and from a fashion perspective I was looking forward to the return to prominence of the sheepskin vest and the shirtless overall look. Any plans for another trend setting video?

WATSON: I'm not sure when we'll see another video, but we've definitely talked about it. We had a great time making the video and we were able to raise some money for charity so if we can have fun and do something good for charity why not make another!? You will just have to wait and see what happens!

BLACK HAT TICKER

Jason Day, who was granted his wish to be grouped with Tiger Woods a few weeks ago in Sydney, will begin wearing a decidedly more youthful line from adidas Golf in 2012, proclaiming that his new clothes want to "make him go out and work harder" ... There's a man who has a lifelong quest to create the perfect golf shirt, and he's none other than golf apparel industry vet Rick Martin, who is expected to launch a 2012 Spring line. On his web site, Martin states that his company's "unique, proprietary finishing processes impart a lasting luster and hand feel" to every shirt produced ... Canada's Dunning Golf, best known for outfitting Zach Johnson prior to his move to Iliac Golf, has been sold to the same house that manages the aforementioned Greg Norman Collection ... The classic prepster brand Tommy Hilfiger recently announced its return to golf, making us wonder if David Duval is once again interested in wearing the brand he wore to the day he shot 59 at PGA West, way back in 1999.