The internet’s having a field day with America’s gala wardrobe choices.

Tuesday night’s Ryder Cup Gala at the Hempstead House should have been about celebrating golf’s biggest team event. Instead, Team USA found themselves defending something entirely different – their choice to pair dress suits with white sneakers and skip the ties altogether. While Team Europe showed up looking like they stepped out of a menswear catalog with their traditional suits, ties, and dress shoes, the Americans looked more like they were heading to a casual Friday meeting that got upgraded to semi-formal at the last minute.

Social Media Declares Europe the Early Winner

Golf Twitter didn’t hold back, and the roasting was swift and merciless. Fans were calling it “absolutely inexcusable” and suggesting Europe should get an automatic point for superior style. One user brutally compared the Americans to “high school kids who didn’t own a suit.” The general consensus? When you’re at a 50,000-square-foot mansion for what’s literally called a “gala,” maybe leave the gym shoes at home.

The Great Sneakers-with-Suits Debate

This fashion faux pas reignited the age-old argument about whether sneakers belong anywhere near formal wear. While some younger fashion enthusiasts have embraced the trend, traditionalists aren’t having it – especially at formal golf events. The Europeans’ classic approach made the contrast even more glaring, turning what should have been a friendly pre-tournament gathering into an unexpected style showdown.

When Team Uniforms Become Team Embarrassment

The wardrobe choice likely wasn’t individual player decisions but rather a team styling directive that backfired spectacularly. Someone in Team USA’s camp thought they were being modern and relaxed, but instead handed Europe an easy PR victory before a single ball was struck. In a sport that prides itself on tradition and etiquette, showing up underdressed to your own party sends the wrong message.

Damage Control Mode

Now Team USA has to bounce back from fashion week’s worst-dressed list and focus on what actually matters – winning the Ryder Cup. But in golf’s social media age, perception matters, and looking like you don’t respect the occasion doesn’t exactly scream “championship mindset.” The Europeans already look confident and composed; they didn’t need the extra boost of looking significantly more professional too.