PGA Tour's Graham DeLaet brings bushy beard to clean-cut world of golf
The Saskatchewan golfer is defending his facial hair
![](https://i.cbc.ca/1.3480292.1457396314!/fileImage/httpImage/image.png_gen/derivatives/16x9_1180/graham-delaet-beard.png?im=Resize%3D780)
The bushy beard boom has officially reached its peak.
The beard, which has grown in popularity over the past few years, has now infiltrated the clean-cut conservative sport of professional golf.
And we have Saskatchewan-born PGA Tour player Graham DeLaet to thank.
Here's a photo DeLaet posted to Twitter today with the stubble-faced Toronto Blue Jays third baseman Josh Donaldson.
Decent pro am partner today in Tampa. <a href="https://twitter.com/BringerOfRain20">@BringerOfRain20</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/sendit?src=hash">#sendit</a> <a href="https://t.co/LkSmwVIUi5">pic.twitter.com/LkSmwVIUi5</a>
—@GrahamDeLaet
For a comparison, here's a photo from 2013 of the beardless golfer from Weyburn, Sask.
![](https://i.cbc.ca/1.1937419.1381378399!/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/original_1180/delaet-graham-100722.jpg?im=)
However, bringing the beard to the mainstream masses hasn't been easy for DeLaet.
Graham DeLaet's beard is the thing of nightmares. (H/T <a href="https://twitter.com/StephanieWei">@StephanieWei</a>) <a href="https://t.co/uIVkHwGnV3">pic.twitter.com/uIVkHwGnV3</a>
—@GolfUnfiltered
Graham Delaet needs to trim that beard up. Dude looks like a scrub. Plays like one most of the time, too.
—@KizzyK20
Just whilst we're on the golf, someone needs to pin down DeLaet and shave that beard. It's ridiculous!
—@MillieBroon
In his Twitter profile, he's had to defend his facial hair choice against the beard haters: "I wear a beard because I like to. If you don't like it, go hug a bald faced man."
If the criticism isn't enough, DeLaet also has to deal with the comparisons.
Some beard on DeLaet. Looks like he escaped from the set of The Revenant.
—@philreidgolf
David Feherty on Graham Delaet's beard: "That's a great beard—looks like he swallowed a cat." <a href="https://t.co/eNWcb99IbR">pic.twitter.com/eNWcb99IbR</a>
—@Going4theGreen
Greg DeLaet is sporting a great beard at the Waste Management Open. Best golfing facial hair since Fluff Cowan <a href="https://t.co/Jtc9BBWKN6">pic.twitter.com/Jtc9BBWKN6</a>
—@offtheball
The last tweet mentioned longtime PGA Tour caddy Mike "Fluff" Cowan. Here's a photo of his wonderful whiskers.
Legendary PGA Tour caddy, Fluff Cowan. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/photography?src=hash">#photography</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/portraits?src=hash">#portraits</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/monochromatic?src=hash">#monochromatic</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/bnw_planet?src=hash">#bnw_planet</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/simplyportraits?src=hash">#simplyportraits</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/face?src=hash">#face</a> <a href="https://t.co/PS3RfL1ez2">pic.twitter.com/PS3RfL1ez2</a>
—@pmpiasecki
The comparisons don't stop there.
Even the PGA Tour weighed in.
If there's a sequel to Happy Gilmore, <a href="https://twitter.com/GrahamDeLaet">@GrahamDeLaet</a> should be the caddie. <a href="https://t.co/GrBnKLLh24">pic.twitter.com/GrBnKLLh24</a>
—@PGATOUR
Here is DeLaet's comeback.
I have nicer clothes and I wear two shoes. <a href="https://t.co/b2WOIjhGHn">https://t.co/b2WOIjhGHn</a>
—@GrahamDeLaet
But there is love out there for the golfer's beard.
Graham Delaet may now have the best beard in the world! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/pgatour?src=hash">#pgatour</a>
—@kevinfaiglewrdw
Graeme Delaet has a very nice beard
—@joe_norman
DeLaet's beard is epic. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PGA?src=hash">#PGA</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PlayoffBeard?src=hash">#PlayoffBeard</a>
—@Jager_Bombs9
Theories for DeLaet's facial hair growth?
He could be in a secret beard-growing contest with PGA Tour golfer Boo Weekley.
So, Boo Weekley has a future part-time job as a mall Santa if he keeps this up. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SonyOpen?src=hash">#SonyOpen</a> <a href="https://t.co/OLcsYk7SI0">pic.twitter.com/OLcsYk7SI0</a>
—@DaveShedloski
Or if we go back to the photo of DeLaet and Donaldson, the golfer could also be vying for a role in the History series Vikings, which the baseball player appeared in.
It's a wrap. Will never forget this experience. <a href="https://twitter.com/HistoryVikings">@HistoryVikings</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/HistoryTVCanada">@HistoryTVCanada</a> <a href="https://t.co/sSUXBGMJC8">pic.twitter.com/sSUXBGMJC8</a>
—@BringerOfRain20