Relaxed and logo free, Moore’s style a big hit

The kicks. Had to love them. They were silver and shaped in a way Ryan Moore could have played both 18 holes and a few hours of pickup basketball with no issues. It's as if Fukijama went to work for Puma.

In the corporate world that is most every blade of grass in professional golf, sponsorship dollars are rarely if ever allotted for shoes. They aren't identifiable enough, considered more add-ons when all the suits begin crafting equipment deals.

But none of that matters to Moore today, not the brand his shoes or shirt or golf bag or clubs inside it represent. He gladly walked away this year from the hundreds of thousands of dollars that come from a PGA player choosing which clothing lines and golf clubs to promote.

Moore voluntarily opted to stroll fairways in the kind of ensemble he wore Thursday at TPC Summerlin, which consisted of a blue shirt he probably bought at Target, gray corduroys and a hat that could very well belong to a Boulder City train conductor.

Moore might choose to play in an argyle sweater vest today. He might opt go for a necktie. He might sport a headband last seen on Rajon Rondo. But whatever Moore chooses, he will have bought himself.

It would be like Kyle Busch driving a car with no logos.

The horror.

How refreshing.

Funny thing, too. Moore, whose mood is known to vary between incredibly irritable and quite friendly depending on his score relative to par, seems as content as he's been since turning pro in 2004.

"(Sponsorship money) is definitely not the most important thing to me," said Moore, who once was a walking billboard for Ping. "I want good business relationships on both sides. I've had sponsors and enjoyed it for a few years. I'm not against sponsors at all. But I haven't quite found the right fit for me, and I've been really happy this way."

Being healthy will do that.

Moore shot 4-under-par 67 Thursday in the first round of the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open, finishing with consecutive birdies that put him five shots off the lead in an event in which he was within two strokes on Sunday last year before taking a 9 on the final hole.

He laughed about that implosion when playing the 18th on Thursday. He can laugh more now. Times have been better this last half of the season.

While at UNLV, Moore earned arguably the greatest amateur record in history, but his pro career has been slowed by a left wrist injury that is still not fully healed since surgery in 2006. Something about a balky hamate bone that can make swinging a club more infuriating than waiting for the Rebels football team to stop someone.

"Man, it really got old not feeling 100 percent and just fighting it all the time," Moore said. "But I'm much better. By January 1, I'll be 100 percent and not have to think about it. I feel like I have found a really good balance in a way to practice and strengthen it."

It was good enough the last several months for him to finish tied for 10th at the U.S. Open and get his first PGA victory, defeating Kevin Stadler and Jason Bohn in a sudden-death playoff at the Wyndham Championship in August. Moore made $936,000 there and has pocketed nearly $2 million this year.

The compensation could be more, of course. Players in Moore's neighborhood in the world ranking (79th) can earn more than $500,000 annually in club and apparel sponsorships.

Most pros have no problem selling to the highest bidder, no matter how outrageous a brand might appear. It's not a bad thing. It's precisely what most of us would do if presented the option. For a half-million bucks, I would write from sporting events wearing a clown costume and a beekeeper's helmet.

But while Moore enjoys the freedom of dressing like your average college student one day or the guy in charge of the Polar Express the next, he most appreciates now his independence when choosing clubs.

You will find all sorts or brands in his bag. He switched putters in midseason. He has been playing of late with a whole new set of irons. He will dabble with different drivers.

It might not always be this way. Moore could soon find that perfect fit and ditch the conductor's hat and silver kicks for good.

Let's hope not.

Ryan Moore has always been sort of a trendsetter.

This time, he is also making one heck of a statement.

Las Vegas Review-Journal sports columnist Ed Graney can be reached at egraney@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-4618. He also can be heard weeknights from 11 p.m. to 1 a.m. on "The Sports Scribes" on KDWN (720 AM) and www.kdwn.com.