Set inside the adidas "Open House" we got the chance to speak to up and coming star Richard Mansell ahead of his second major appearance the 150th Open Championship, having battled his way through the 36-hole final qualifying stage at Hollinwell for the second year running. Scottsdale Golf got the opportunity to have a chat with Richard and get his thoughts on the Open and also on the new adidas adicross range he proudly wears on Tour. Read on to get Richard's thoughts on golfing fashion as it continues to evolve into more contemporary wear that will surely encourage more young players to get involved with golf. 

 

Scottsdale Golf (SG): Are you excited? Its obviously been quite a few interesting weeks for you. Obviously you qualified and got in to the US Open and you've qualified now for the 150th Open here at St Andrews. How are you feeling? What's that like?
Richard Mansell (RM): I mean this is the major really isn't it? The Open Championship for me is the biggest tournament in the world. I grew up watching it and obviously watching golf tournaments being played at the home of golf so to be a part of it is really special.

SG: Is it more special being being in the Open at St Andrews than say playing the US open or playing an Open at any other venue? Is this the one you want to be in and want to be involved in?
RM: Yeah, obviously I qualified for Royal St Georges last year which was an amazing experience but being here just being around even the town of St Andrews separate from the tournament, just walking around, everything here is just golf. Its just everyone here, there's people from all over the world here come to watch, there's going to be record crowds and you cant really describe the feeling of walking out on to that first tee and kind of looking down 1 and 18.

SG: Its an incredible golf course it really is. Have you been out on to the course much since you've been here?
RM: Yeah, so, I played 9 holes yesterday and I'm playing 18 later today, trying to really kind of do my preparation on the golf course rather than the practice area because links golf is links golf and you learn it while you're out there, every shot you require.

SG: How's the course looking?
RM: Firm, fast, yeah but obviously we've got good weather this week so you expect low scores but there's not much rough but I think they're going to have to do something with the pin positions and hope we get a bit of wind and obviously the firmness of the golf course makes it tougher for people.

SG: So what's your game plan going to be on the course? Are there going to be many drivers?
RM: Yeah drivers my strength, since I've turned pro my stats with driver have always been really good so you've got try and take it to the golf course. This place shows that you can, pretty much all of the holes you can miss it left, so if you take it up the left to play a little fade and it stays there you can. Miss the bunkers and try and shoot as low as possible on this golf course, that means trying to be aggressive and get as close to the greens as possible.  

 

SG: Of course were here in the adidas "Open House" and you're wearing the latest adicross stuff, obviously you're known for being pretty cool on the course, breaking away from the norm, no tucked in shirts, no collars, what's it like, the relationship you've got with adidas and wearing the adicross things on the course?
RM: Yeah when I kind of qualified for the open, well actually it was last year that they spoke to me about being the face of the adicross stuff, Chris from adidas said to me "No pressure but we really need you to qualify for the open, because we want to put you in the stuff because we've got really great ideas", so to go and do it and the actually see what was on offer to wear, they've worked really well with me and, like you say, making me feel comfortable and not trying to push too much, but obviously we are trying to change the game a bit and I feel like were getting there slowly but surely. 

SG: Like you say, golf is changing and golf, traditionally, hasn't been classed as a "cool" sport, do you think that with these new kind of looks, like what adidas are doing with adicross, is that going to have an effect on golf and the audience and the audience that golf attracts?
RM: Yeah hope fully I mean, that's it, I think more and more younger people are getting involved in golf. You look at the outfits that a lot of brands are doing now and the rules are getting more and more relaxed. I think this collection is in collaboration with the R&A which shows that more and more people are getting on board. Golf is cool at the end of the day and we need to push it to the wider audience if we can and if that's by fashion sense and things like that then why not? I mean its 2022 now, its not 1950's, so like I say I think its heading in the right direction, even from when I was a junior and took up the game.

SG: Shall we take a look at your outfits and what you're wearing for the week? What's it like input wise? With the adicross range did you have a bit of an input on the design, how it was styled? How does that work?
RM: Yeah so, some of the adicross stuff they kind of checked with me that I was happy to wear stuff untucked and wanted to go against the grain a bit, obviously it is more streetwear stuff so, its not full performance like some of the performance gear, but you've still got to perform in it so it has that element to it. 

 

SG: Your outfit today looks great! New Rebelcross shoes?
RM: Yeah, comfy as ever, I've been wearing these all year, I've got a few pairs and colours of them. I like to be in a shoe that I'm not changing all the time, obviously, your feet get used to a shoe and these have just fit in really well with me. The first question they asked was how are they in terms of performance? and they've been absolutely great. 

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SG: Do you get any sort of kickback on Tour when you're playing? Anyone on tour when you're playing, with what you're wearing? Or is it now the norm that you can wear your shirt untucked, no collar etc.
RM: I think last year was my first year Tour, and obviously first year on Tour, not many people know you and you're coming out wearing pin rolled trousers and things like that so yeah I had some comments off some of the older pro's and they're not nasty comments but they do make comments. I wont name any names but someone was wearing what id see as an awful outfit and he made a comment about my outfit and something about if I was expecting rain because I didn't have any socks on, I think I said something like "at least im not dressed like my grandad" kind of thing. It was all in good humour and he took it well. This year now, second year on tour, and I've started to play better and more people know who you are, people just accept that this is how I feel comfortable. I do still dress how I would class as a golfer sometimes in the performance stuff and so an and obviously when you play in some climates where it is really warm you need to wear certain things but its just nice to mix it up and I get that balance quite well, and some days I will walk out on to the putting green and some guys will go yeah that's brave and that kind of thing but I feel like outfits are my personality.

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SG: It is great that the game is changing, looking forward to seeing you and your outfits on the course this week!

After managing to make the cut, ahead of some superstars who missed out, Richard battled through the weekend to put in a T68 finish. Absolutely nothing to scoff at and we are sure Richard will go on to achieve great things in his careeer. Following St Andrews, Richard is hoping to make an impact at the DP World Tour's Cazoo Classic at Hillside this weekend. We look forward to seeing Richard grow in to his career and also how far he can stretch the boundaries of golfing fashion. 

 

 

 

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