Day 2 of the Soudal Open in Belgium, a $2.25 million event,  presented golf fans from all over the world with a unique sight. Louis de Jager of the DP World Tour made an unusual decision to prevent mud from getting on his shirt, and it has now gone viral. The South African golfer’s antics have garnered both laughter and confusion among fans and analysts, with the original post receiving over 153.8k views.

Louis De Jager found his ball in a water hazard on the thirteenth hole. What happened next will live in golf fans’ memories for a very long time. To keep clean while taking his recovery shot, De Jager loosened his belt and took off his shirt. “Has the shirt off, the belt undone?” one announcer commented. “Is this really necessary?” “Well, he obviously doesn’t want to get mud on his shirt,” another commentator replied. “So, yes.”

The South African golfer then hit the ball out of the near-hazard. As he hit, some mud did fly, but none of it touched the golfer. The ball ended up away from the fairway. After the shot, one of the commentators said, “I mean, I think personally if you’re gonna go as far as that, you might as well take the trousers off, the shoes off, the socks off and everything.”

Many were taken aback by this practical choice, even though it made some sense, especially since he didn’t take off his white sneakers. In terms of his play, De Jager’s daring decision paid off, as although he made a bogey on the hole, he came back with two birdies to stay in contention. He was able to prevent needless washing and maintain his shirt’s cleanliness, along with his presumed dignity.

But the image of de Jager’s undone belt and golfer’s tan line caused quite a stir on the internet. While some thought his creative approach to cleanliness was admirable, others thought it went too far in breaking conventional golf etiquette.

Fans react to Louis de Jager’s bold move

“This is what peak performance looks like – deal with it hatooors,” one fan said humorously, suggesting that De Jager’s decision was true “peak performance”. This comment reflects the lengths elite athletes will go to protect their gear and performance. It also sets a light-hearted tone in the reactions to this incident.

However, not everyone was so positive. Another fan disagreed, writing, “Well, a dirty shirt may have been the preferable option.” This comment shows an opinion that some might prefer a slightly messy shirt over an untraditional look that borders on disrespect. Many agreed with this take on the news.

“I can’t afford a new shirt, so let’s take it off for this shot,” another fan joked, once again capturing the humorous side of the situation. This comment highlights the lengths to which some players might go to avoid unwanted incidents, even if it means making unusual choices, in this case, going shirtless.

“So disrespectful to the traditions and legacy,” one traditionalist fan exclaimed, expressing their concerns that such actions undermine the sport’s storied history and decorum. Golf is a highly traditional sport and such actions, according to the fan, can bring down the quality of the true experience of the sport.

Fans took the hate to another level, exclaiming “Disqualify this dude.” This fan, another traditionalist, seems to think Louis De Jager is decision went too far and should not be allowed to compete in the tournament anymore.

Finally, one fan exclaimed, “What a specimen.” This could be taken in both ways. The fan could perhaps be appreciating De Jager’s physical fitness and willingness to take a risk to stay clean. On the other hand, it could also be the fan making fun of De Jager’s out-of-the-box approach to the sport.

This range of responses shows the differing viewpoints among golf fans. Some people think De Jager’s initiatives are notable and even plausible, while others think they hurt the game’s traditional reputation. What are your thoughts on it?