2024 Olympics in Paris: Why do so many women golfers wear long sleeves while playing?

The first round of the Women’s golf tournament is underway from Le Golf National in Paris. Sixty of the world’s best players will be battling over the next four days under the blazing Parisien sun, and many of them will be looking to protect themselves from the heat while going for gold.

Sleeves over suntan lotion

It’s a growing sight in the game these days. More and more players are opting to wear long sleeves despite the boiling summer heat in Paris and in other tournaments on the PGA and LPGA calendar. It has nothing to do with fashion statements, or trendsetting. It has a much more practical purpose, and that would be protecting players skin from the beating sun.

Think about it. Golfers are often subjected to four to five hour rounds from Thursday to Sunday. That’s not to mention practice rounds before the tournament starts, and range time before their round starts. When you are out in the sun for that long, and that often you have to protect your skin from the sun.

Sun tan lotion might do the trick when you make a trip to the beach or spend the afternoon on the boat, but when your livelihood depends on you being outside for almost half the day, everyday you want as much protection as possible. Not to mention, lathering yourself with suntan lotion is probably not the most conducive for a steady grip of your five iron.

From skin cancer to tan lines

“I try to especially wear them in the summer,” said LPGA vet Lindsey Weaver. “When there’s so much sun exposure like this and it’s so hot, I’ll put on sunscreen three times a day and still get burnt. [Sleeves] honestly don’t feel much different than sleeveless. You’re just sweating and sticky with sunscreen anyway. It feels better and you’re more protected with the sleeves.”

There are more than 80,000 cases of melanoma diagnosed each year according to the Americans Academy of Dermatology, and 20% of Americans will be diagnosed with skin cancer. With numbers like that, there is no need to tempt fate for golfers who are constantly feeling the wrath of the hot summer sun.

Aside from the practical reasons, there may be a bit of an aesthetic reason. If you don’t wear sleeves, not only do you risk skin disease you risk a wicked farmers tan. Who can forget the famous picture of Stewart Cink taking off his hat at the end of a round only to reveal the top of his head that was as white as a golf ball while the rest of his face was bronzed from his days under the sun.