ELEGANT STROKES PERSONAL STYLE, ENDORSEMENT CONTRACTS ARE PAR FOR THE COURSE.

Byline: Barbara De Witt  Fashion Editor

Jesper Parnevik's pink pants aside, pro golfers are swinging with style.

Instead of polyester plaid pants and loud colors, it's a quieter, more refined fashion statement on the course. The current trend also reflects the '40s-inspired fluid silk trousers and oversize sport shirts.

While golf stars such as Tiger Woods, Kirk Triplett and Gary McCord are known for specific looks - Woods' lucky color (red), Triplett's Italian designs and McCord's tropical shirts - it's often the clothing manufacturers they endorse who are the real image makers.

Take Woods. His youthful good looks, poise and consistent wins got him a multimillion-dollar endorsement contract (plus a royalty arrangement on product sales) with Nike. But when it comes to wardrobe selection, Woods doesn't get to call the shots, says Nike golf apparel director David Hagler.

``Tiger doesn't get to pick and choose what he's going to wear. His entire wardrobe is scripted in advance for every single day he participates in a tournament where he's getting major coverage. We design a specific outfit for the weather conditions, so one day he might wear a rayon blend golf shirt, another day a shirt made of a moisture-management fabric called Dri-Fit. But we also know that red is Tiger's power or lucky color, so it's important for his Sunday wardrobe.''

Fans may have noticed that Woods' fashion stance has changed since he signed with Nike in 1997. Originally he wore bright red shirts on Sundays, and reflected a younger, sportier image.

As Woods has matured, his - and Nike's - tastes have changed, so this spring Nike, is dressing him more upscale, says Hagler. And the shade of red is more sophisticated, closer to claret than crimson.

The fashion freedom Woods does have is limited to his belts.

``Since Nike doesn't make belts, he wears his own, brown or black, depending on the outfit. However, we are considering a Tiger Woods belt collection,'' Hagler adds.

But smaller companies such as Tony Bahama have a different philosophy.

``Every company has its own view, but we're different than, say, Nike, and we approach people whose personalities reflect our image, which is casually chic with an island attitude,'' says company spokesman Tony Margolis. ``And we hope it will be our good fortune that along the way, they get TV exposure that results in publicity for us.''

Tony Bahama doesn't even have a golf division, but describes itself as a sportswear company that is ``golf friendly,'' so there are no million- dollar deals yet, he says with a laugh.

``I can't tell you how much each player is paid, because the amount depends on the player's needs and motivation. They strike deals that aren't just about money, but each of the players we dress - McCord, Peter Jacobsen and Russ Cochran - does get a complete wardrobe and they're free to mix and match shirts and pants to create their own ensembles.''

The wardrobe Margolis is talking about is a soft, draping collection of clothes that includes solid color trousers and shirts, as well as the company's trademark tropical prints with palm trees and hibiscus flowers. To ensure the player is appropriately dressed for the weather, there are cotton, linen and silk for warm climates; sweaters, vests and shirts that are chill-and-wind resistant; and also water-proof shirts for sudden showers.

The only requirement, he adds, is that they wear his brand of clothes to every tournament they compete in. And they must participate in at least 20 to 25 tournaments a year.

Within those free wardrobes, each player tries to find a lucky look. For Woods, it's red on Sundays. Sometimes it's a red shirt or vest, but other times he has to settle for a narrow stripe of red in the weave of his golf shirt because Nike didn't have red on its seasonal color palette.

Nick Price, who also wears Nike, says he prefers black and navy, and favors the company's white or two-tone Nike golf shoes. But he's not a clothes horse and claims to be easy to please.

In fact, if he could change the dress code, he'd trade his pleated pants for Bermuda shorts.

``I'd be a lot more comfortable in shorts, but I realize some of the guys out there have ugly legs,'' he joked as he stepped into the locker room at the Riviera golf course in Pacific Palisades for last month's 2000 Nissan Open .

Fred Couples, who's signed with Ashworth, is even less picky.

``As long as I've got clothes on, I'm happy. And besides, they (Ashworth) let me give a little input, so I request shirts with a loose fit and pants with a lot of cotton or wool gabardine.''

Then there's Ernie Els, a fashion plate in black silk trousers with a silver-tipped black leather belt. Els says he works closely with Adidas, which he endorses, and its next collection available in April will reflect his input.

Like Els, Matt Gogel thinks professional golfers have a duty to look as presentable as possible, but he doesn't give Fairway and Greene any input. ``They send me 25 to 30 shirts a month and I select whatever I want. But I do have a preference to stripes over solids,'' says the Mission Hills player.

Kirk Triplett, winner of this year's Nissan Open, endorses the Italian line called Carnoustie which keeps him looking dapper in navy and black ensembles. But he, too, stays out of the drawing room.

``I have zero influence, and that's the way I want it - as long as they don't make me wear knickers. Or white shoes and belt, which are unlucky,'' he says.

Shoes are a big deal these days. It used to be everybody wore white. Then Tiger became known for black shoes, which could be why Jerry Kelly laughs and says black shoes are bad luck. He and many other players prefer black-and-white saddle shoes on the course.

In regard to his wardrobe, which is provided by Ashworth, Kelly says, ``I pretend to like everything, but I'm Irish so I like green.''

Meanwhile, Duffy Waldorf makes his style statement with Hawaiian print shirts, while Rory Sabbatini stands out in geometric prints.

But sometimes a new image can revive a career.

Take a gander at David Duvall. The guys in the locker room are now calling the once-portly, 11-time PGA winner the ``PGA Makeover Man.'' Newly trim, Duvall has just signed a deal with L.A. sportswear designer Mossimo. And you can already spot him as the guy in the dark glasses and tight turtleneck.

CAPTION(S):

8 photos

Photo:

(1 -- cover -- color) On the greener side. Golf clothes change course as pros and their sponsors set the style.

John Lazar/Staff Photographer

(2 -- color) Jeff Freeman is easy to spot in a bright orange shirt at Rivera Country Club.

(3 --color) Nick Price wears Nike and prefers black and navy but says he's easy to please.

(4 -- color) Fred Couples wears Ashworth and says he requests loose-fitting shirts and pants with ``a lot of cotton or wool gabardine.''

David Crane/Staff Photographer

(5 -- color) Jesper Parnevik in his pink pants during last month's Nissan Open at Riviera Country Club.

Tom Mendoza/Staff Photographer

(6 -- color) Tiger Woods favors red on Sundays, but Nike decides his wardrobe for every other day of the week during tournament play.

(7 -- color) Gary McCord prefers the casual island attitude of Tony Bahama sportswear.

(8 -- color) no caption (Two-tone golf shoe)