When Usher takes the stage, he commands attention—and this past weekend at the PGA Tour Championship, the superstar proved he can own the golf course, too. The Atlanta-raised R&B legend made waves rocking the Polo Ralph Lauren x Morehouse College collection, a look that perfectly blended Ivy League elegance with unapologetic HBCU pride.
Usher in Morehouse Mode
Draped in a maroon-and-white Morehouse jacket, paired with a crisp white tee and matching cap, Usher delivered a statement far beyond fashion. His look came from the Polo Ralph Lauren for Oak Bluffs collection, a collaboration designed to celebrate HBCU tradition and culture. The collection, curated by Morehouse alumnus James M. Jeter, ensures that “every thread carries the weight of legacy.”
For Usher, the fit was more than style—it was symbolism. It marked another moment of shining a spotlight on HBCU culture, just months after he invited Jackson State’s Sonic Boom of the South to share the stage during his iconic Super Bowl halftime performance. As the singer has consistently shown, “he never forgets where he came from and is intentional about where he shines the light next.”
More Than Just Fashion
The Polo Ralph Lauren Oak Bluffs capsule isn’t just about clothes—it’s about storytelling. Designed with input from Morehouse and Spelman graduates, the collection merges Ralph Lauren’s timeless prep aesthetic with traditions of Black excellence. By zipping up the Morehouse jacket, Usher wasn’t simply dressing for the cameras—he was representing an institution that has shaped leaders, creators, and changemakers for generations.
Even the backdrop mattered. Golf has long been known for its exclusivity, but Usher, alongside fellow star Rick Ross—an Albany State alumnus—shifted that narrative. Their presence infused HBCU energy into the greens, and in one viral Instagram clip, the pair laughed, posed, and made the fairway feel “less Augusta National and more like an upscale Atlanta block party.”
Why It Matters
For HBCUs, visibility equals impact. Usher showing up at a premier PGA event in the Polo Ralph Lauren x Morehouse look wasn’t just celebrity style—it was amplification. It was proof that HBCUs don’t just influence the culture, “they are the culture.”
For students and alumni, it was validation. Whether you’re pulling an all-nighter in Graves Hall or proudly humming the alma mater years after graduation, seeing one of the world’s biggest stars draped in your school colors is fuel to keep going.
The Takeaway
Usher didn’t just attend the PGA Tour Championship—he transformed it. He turned the golf course into a runway, gave the cameras a cultural moment, and placed HBCUs firmly at the center of the spotlight. The look was preppy. It was polished. And, above all, it was unapologetically HBCU.
