It's A Scarf, It's A Keffiyah, It's A Snood: New World No. 1's Neckware Generates Much Needed Semantics Debate

I would have thought Marty Hackel's pronouncement of "scarf" would have made this established case law, but apparently there is still some question about what to call new world No. 1 Martin Kaymer's neck embellishment during Saturday's match play.

But as Doug Ferguson's note explains, Kaymer is calling it a snood and the decision to unveil the neckware was entirely a product of his inability to read a 7-day weather forecast. (So much for the stereotype of the meticulous German-planning for every scenario!)

"I don't know how it's called in English — snood?" said Kaymer, the German star set to face Luke Donald in the final Sunday. "I heard a lot of guys in soccer, they are using that. I just got it yesterday in order to stay warm. And maybe it's a European thing. Maybe we'll see it more often on the PGA Tour."

He didn't pack at turtleneck for the week.

"No, I'm staying in Scottsdale, usually to get ready for tournaments," Kaymer said. "When you drive only one and a half hours, you're not expecting to bring a sweater, even. But if we needed a turtleneck, I was not expecting that."

Nice work by Garry Smits to track down the maker of the, uh, scarf/ascot/snood/keffiyah (SASK!), Vaughn Cochran.

"It was a tremendous surprise to me," Cochran said.

Kaymer, who defeated Bubba Watson 1-up to reach the championship match Sunday against Luke Donald, was wearing the scarf around his neck to ward off temperatures that had turned chilly in the Arizona desert. Cochran said the apparel, treated with UV protection and made from a synthetic blend, had originally been designed for fly fishermen to wear around their heads to protect them from sunburn.

He said Kaymer may have stumbled onto another use for the scarf, which has been sold by Black Fly Outfitters for four years.

"It protects against the sun, but it certainly could be useful for protecting against the cold," Cochran said. "There are a number of ways people could use it. We're thankful for the attention Martin is bringing to the product."

By the way, Kaymer is playing for the match play title Sunday and Mike McCallister breaks down the match with Luke Donald.