Win or lose, European Ryder Cup team

 will be well-dressed at Hazeltine

By Forecaddie

GOLFWEEK.COM

Ryder Cup captain Darren Clarke (second from right) with the Ryder Cup and his vice captains Paul Lawrie (L), Padraig Harrington and Thomas Bjorn (R) . (Getty Images)

The Ryder Cup is drawing near, and the annual tug-of-war over which team should be favoured has begun. Though Europe has won six of the last seven, the U.S. will be playing at home, with more higher-ranked players, prompting European captain Darren Clarke to say the U.S. has to be favoured.
Know this: There’s a lot less mystery in declaring the favourite in the clothes department. Though Davis Love III has an American classic in Polo, the European team will be outfitted by Loro Piana, a high-end Italian company not previously involved in golf. 
Clarke, a natty dresser himself and a detailed man, met with designers to spell out exactly what he wanted, sparing no expense. The tuxedos the Euro players and captains will wear, for instance, go for about $10,000 apiece (£5,000).
“I’ll bet these guys (European Ryder Cup players and captains) will be getting about 100 grand in gear,” Clarke’s long-time manager, Chubby Chandler, said with a grin. 
“Darren’s like, ‘This here needs to be mohair, nice and light for travel,’ and players get a tux, a suit … the shoes go for about $3,000 (£1,500) a pair.”
Clarke’s European team clothing repertoire includes cashmere sweaters, fancy gilets and pants (trousers) that feature a “Rain System” finish. On opening day at the Ryder Cup on Friday, Sept. 30, dress will be anything but office casual.
Asked on Wednesday what to expect of Clarke’s captaincy, Rory McIlroy, who was 10 years old when he first met Clarke in Northern Ireland, quipped, “We’ll be well-dressed.”
That’s an understatement. Clarke gave a hearty laugh when asked about his haberdasher side.
“I hope all the guys like the stuff as much as I do,” he said. “There’s no wild, wacky sort of outfits. They’re very sensible. Classic.”
Much like the captain.