On this chilly late-February day, it is odd to be commenting on the kind of winter weather that is usually reserved for Canada in context of the Arizona-based WGC-Accenture World Match Play Championship.

But, as it goes, for the second time in three years, there a cold front swept through Dove Mountain, causing the first round of the Match Play Championship to be cancelled earlier Wednesday because of a myriad of poor weather – hail, freezing rain, and snow.

This caused toques to be strapped on, rain gear to be worn, and Martin Kaymer’s infamous buff (or ‘snood’) to make a return.

The buff first debuted at the 2011 Match Play Championship. Kaymer donned one during his quarter, semi, and final matches.

Kaymer, who was on the cusp of becoming the no.1 player in the world after winning the 2010 PGA Championship, went on to lose the final to Luke Donald 3 & 2. 

It caused quite a fashion-forward discussion among the khaki-clad broadcasting contingent, before the resident style expert for golf Marty Hackel was brought in and set the world straight via a tweet – “Kaymer’s scarf is called a Buff and was designed by Vaughn Cochran at Black Fly Outfitters,” he said.

Immediately, hundreds of clicks hit the website, and according to some reports, Black Fly Outfitters claimed over 1,000 new orders on the buff in a 24-hour time span, at $23 a piece.

Black Fly Outfitters, according to its website, is the brain child of husband and wife team Vaughn and Jean Cochran, located in northern Florida. It’s a specialty fly-fishing shop, and a buff is cylindrical piece of cloth that can be rolled up into any variety of configurations depending on your activity and weather conditions.

The particular buff that Kaymer wore in 2011 is the Tarpon Fly UV Fishing Buff, made with a fabric called Coolmax Extreme, meant to help block 95% of UV rays and wick away sweat.

The point of one in Arizona this week (and 2011) – which seems ironic, given the normal desert conditions – would be to keep a player warm.

Although not wearing the more recognizable ‘Blackfly’ design from 2011, Kaymer’s 2013 selection appears to also be another Cochran version.

A photo – attributed to GolfWRX – shows Kaymer clearly wearing the buff, and considering the day’s weather and predicted forecast the next few days,  it might prove to be a valuable piece of Kaymer’s wardrobe.

Kaymer, the elegant German sponsored by Hugo Boss, sporting a fisherman’s neck-piece at a World Golf Championship event. Why not? If it works, it works.

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Hitting the Links – 

A buff may come in handy for us Canadian golfers. If you’re interested in purchasing one, you can from Black Fly’s website

If the snow keeps up, the PGA Tour should just rename this tournament the WGC-Instagram Match Play Championship. Check out the feeds of Ian Poulter, Keegan Bradley, and Rickie Fowler for on-site pictures of today’s storm.

Another nice profile on Brad Fritsch, who will be dropping the puck at the Ottawa Senators game tomorrow night (CBC)

Steve Stricker and Jim Furyk comment on the proposed anchored putting ban (Yahoo!)

Lorne Rubenstein with his own take on the matter as well (Globe & Mail)

Really fun interview with Lee Trevino here by Kyle Porter (CBS Sports)

A legal despuite is ongoing for the land on which the golf course for the 2016 Olympics will be built in Rio (Canadian Press)

PGA Tour Canada announces the opening of its Q-School registration. 40 cards up for grabs (PGA Tour Canada)