At The Masters, tradition runs deep, right down to the attire players wear across the four days at Augusta National Golf Club. That standard was evident last year when Jason Day was asked to tone down his Malbon Golf outfits. The Australian now appears to be testing those limits once again.

Day, the former world No. 1, turned heads during Monday’s practice round in Malbon Golf’s ‘Birds of Georgia’ collection, a top covered with various birds, including orioles, cardinals, and woodpeckers. The look was originally meant to include matching pants, but according to Sports Illustrated, Augusta National Golf Club asked him to switch to standard, solid-colored trousers instead. But what was the idea behind his outfit?

The outfit came as part of a collaboration between Jason Day and Malbon Golf, which started in 2024. He gave Malbon Golf not only credibility but also increased visibility through his signature style. This transformation was also a reflection of Day’s mentality after his injury, as he felt less constrained and more confident about himself.

Speaking about the idea behind the outfit, Malbon Golf founder Stephen Malbon said, “If you are on the course and you are tuned in with nature and know the sounds of birds, you’ll make more birdies. It’s inspired by Native American beliefs. Each one of these birds has a different meaning. I’ve been sending the noises of the birds to Jason for the last six months. Hopefully, he’s trying to stay in touch with nature.”

Back in 2024, Day drew national attention during his first Masters collaboration with Malbon Golf. He stepped out in a vest inscribed with “No. 313. Malbon Golf Championship” in bold lettering, paired with loose-fitting blue pants that quickly became a talking point. However, when Day returned to the course later that same day, after the schedule was reshuffled due to a rain delay, the vest was noticeably absent from his outfit.

Augusta National had instructed to get rid of the sweater.

“My agent got a call from high above and said, ‘Hey, we need Jason to take that vest off,’” he said about that incident.

Interestingly, as per his own admission, his wardrobe ideas for last year’s The Masters Tournament were “a lot crazier” than what ultimately made it onto the course in 2024. Officials even asked for a preview of his outfits ahead of time, leading to changes in the final plans.

While Day has been making a lot of noise with his outfits, fans haven’t been particularly fond of this partnership. So, they couldn’t buy Malbon’s words and rushed to the comment section to chime in with their takes.

Fans give their two cents on Jason Day’s Masters outfit 

Day has often tried to pull away from golf’s traditional aesthetics, which many fans see as attention-seeking. They still remember the 2024 Masters, which gained a lot of attention back then. Fast-forward to the current season when Malbon Golf released Day’s entire wardrobe collection for the 2026 Masters, featuring his outfit for the tournament held at the Augusta National for five consecutive days.

Hence, fans wrote:

• “Trying his best to be even more unlikable than he is.”
• “Apparently, this is sold out on Malbon’s website already.” 

And Day’s outfit for Tuesday was especially noteworthy in this regard. Many joked that it looked like he was headed to a fishing trip. Interestingly, the other outfits lined up for the week, which includes practice rounds, also follow the birdwatching theme. But the golfer won’t be alone in this.

Sungjae Im, who is also sponsored by Malbon, will follow a similar theme. As per reports, his outfits will feature scarlet tanagers, orioles, eastern bluebirds, cardinals, blue jays, golden finches, and red-headed woodpeckers. Regardless, fans couldn’t get over Day’s outfit. They wrote:

• • “A disgrace.”
  • “I just hope he’s getting paid a lot of money for these clown outfits. Don’t get me started on the bag. It looks like a road construction pylon on steroids.”

Speaking in defense after the backlash, Malbon said last week, “We did a birdwatching vest with special pockets; everyone thinks it’s a tackle, like a fly-fishing vest, but it’s actually a birdwatching vest. They loved everything because it was tasteful. It wasn’t just jacking the green and yellow color combo and doing the same thing people have been doing forever.”

For what it’s worth, though, the company seems to have put a lot of thought behind the overall outfit.

Malbon founder Stephen Malbon revealed that the concept behind the outfit was pitched playfully, even involving audio clips of bird sounds that left Day amused. Alongside these, Malbon, as a brand, is expanding its presence at Augusta. They have introduced new lifestyle-focused experiences, including birdwatching sessions and floral arrangement classes led by Cathy Malbon.

All in all, while Day’s bird-themed top earned the approval of the officials this time, the same can’t be said about fans.

• “This is one of the ugliest photos I have ever seen.”

However, the relationship that Jason Day shares with Augusta goes beyond his attire. He arrives at least a week earlier, after the women have vacated the grounds following the Women’s Amateur tournament, and strolls around the back nine in almost complete solitude.

“It’s the most peaceful nine holes you can have on a golf course all year,” he says. “It’s magical.”

This connection has been there since 2011, when the golfer, at 23-years-old, expressed his desire to quit the game of golf while sitting in his motorhome the night before the Masters event, only to finish in the second position.

Now, in his 15th appearance, he seems clear about his goals. “I shouldn’t say I think; I know I have the game,” he said. If that happens, he will have a good answer for the naysayers.