At a Soaked P.G.A. Championship, Backward Ball Caps and the Umbrella Dance

PITTSFORD (N.Y.) -- During the third round at the P.G.A. On Saturday, Rory McIlroy and Justin Thomas were among the golfers who walked around the grounds of Oak Hill Country Club wearing their caps backward.

Rose said, "It makes my feel cool." 'Young. Hip.'

The attire for the 105th P.G.A. Championship on Saturday was not a revolution in golf fashion. The Championship held on Saturday was not a sign of a new era in relaxed golf. It is true, however, that wearing a cap with the back turned was not a common practice in professional golf. However, there were no penalties, hoots, or disqualifications.

A relentless rainstorm pounded Oak Hill Country Club all day, forcing the world's top golfers to experiment with their headgear.

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Rose, 42, did not try to reinvent his image. He was just making a joke. He had his cap on backwards because it was soaked in rain. When he put down his head to hit the ball, beads dripped onto the ball.

Rose admitted that the incident had a negative impact on her. At the top of my backswing I had two droplets of water fall on me and that distracted me. This is a nuisance, so I decided to flip it.

McIlroy and Rose offered the same excuse, though they both admitted that neither of them had worn their hats backwards at a major championship golf before.

The look is common on rainy, sloppy days. It's seen often at municipal golf clubs, but it was shocking when the best golfers in the world wore it.

In case you're wondering, the P.G.A. The P.G.A. The P.G.A. Championship confirmed there was a dress code for players, but wearing a cap backwards did not seem to violate it, as no golfer has been penalized or removed from the course.

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Rose, Scheffler and McIlroy, as well as Justin Suh (another backwards hat rebel), were all in the top 10 at the end of Sunday's round. So maybe they knew something the rest of the golfers didn't.

Rainstorm on Saturday forced golfers to adjust their game in many ways.

The bad weather brought out the importance of the relationship between the players and their caddies. The umbrella handoff that occurs thousands of times - almost always in the exact same order - between players and their caddies during a wet round is the most complex. This is either funny or the epitome unspoken, efficient coordination.

It usually goes as follows:

The caddie walks around the course in the rain to try to determine the distance to the next green shot. The player gives the umbrella to the caddie and then selects a golf club from his bag when the caddie returns. The umbrella's interior spokes are used to dry the club grip. The caddie will hold the umbrella above the player's face when he walks to his ball on the fairway. The player's head is protected until a few seconds before the swing. The caddie will then step to one side. The caddie will then hold the umbrella over the golf bag of the player, as keeping it dry is more crucial than keeping him dry.

The player gives the caddie his club after the ball has been struck. The caddie then hands the umbrella to the player. The player walks toward the ball while leaving the caddie unprotected to walk behind him in the rain.

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As Jon Rahm, world's number one golfer said on Saturday, "I can take the umbrella and leave." He sacrifices.

Rahm knows how much Adam Hayes endures and appreciates him.

He said, "The bottom of today's bag had two inches of water inside." His clothes were completely soaked. He must have about 35 pounds of rain on him. On a rainy, he is more important than ever.

Stephan Jaeger's golf bag, which contained seven towels, other gear, and other items to help him get through the nearly five-hour rainy round, was estimated at 70 pounds by Jaeger on Saturday. Jaeger was exhausted after the entire experience, which included the constant umbrella exchanges, wiping rain from his cap and calculating how many yards wet grass could impede shots.

He said, 'It is a lot effort' minutes after leaving the golf course. "I'm sure I'll feel it when I calm down and sit down." I'm sure the adrenaline will wear down a bit and I'll be tired. There's a great deal to think about.