From Fairways to Sun Rays Keeping Golf Legends in the Game
From Fairways to Sun Rays Keeping Golf Legends in the Game
When most people hear "reef-safe sunscreen," they picture tropical beaches and coral reefs. I think we can all agree that protecting marine ecosystems from harmful chemicals is essential. Still, the case for clean, mineral-based sun protection goes far beyond the shoreline it's about protecting all environments where we live, play, and compete, which is part of the fabric of our lives.
My career has taken me from the sidelines of the NFL to the hardwood of the NBA to the fairways of the PGA. I've watched athletes pour every ounce of themselves into their sport-pushing past exhaustion, pain, and pressure - only to face a quieter, invisible opponent: the relentless power of the sun.
Golf, in particular, is the only major sport played entirely under the open sky, sunrise to sunset, across climates and continents. The world's top players spend more hours in direct UV exposure than nearly any other athletes. Are they truly protected, or are they sacrificing their long-term health for short-term benefits?
Golf isn't just a leisure pastime; it's a global stage. That's millions of people around the worldplayers, caddies, coaches, volunteers, and fans living their lives outdoors.
The professional schedule is unforgiving: The Masters, the WM Phoenix Open, the PGA Tour, the European Tour (now DP World Tour), LIV Golf. Players move from humid Southern courses to desert fairways and windswept links, with no escape from the UV index. LIV Golf's 2025 tour alone spans four continents, underscoring the fact that UV risk is a universal concern.
We have watched players pause mid-round to reapply sunscreen not as a performance for the cameras, but out of necessity, because the heat and glare are that intense. I've seen the telltale streaks of mineral SPF left behind after hours in the sun, and I've observed players with decades of competition behind them, make sun protection as much a part of their routine as selecting a club or reading a green.
Golf's stage is as iconic as its competition. That visibility makes it a powerful platform to normalize healthy habits. Just as etiquette and sportsmanship define the game, sun protection should be an integral part of its culture. When a Ryder Cup crowd sees McIlroy applying SPF or LIV champion Bryson DeChambeau speaking about sun care, fans notice.
This isn't just about golfers. It's about every outdoor sport, from football training camps in blistering August to baseball spring training and beyond. Every athlete knows that preparation is the key to performance, but preparation has to extend to skin health, because careers and lives depend on it.
Leadership in sun safety isn't about big ad campaigns; it's about the small, consistent actions that protect longevity. In sports, discipline is everything. Sun protection should be no different.
When the biggest tournaments treat sunscreen as essential as a driver or a putter, the message is clear: Sun safety isn't optional. It's tradition. Its performance. And it's how we keep athletes and the games we love thriving for decades to come.
Sun Responsibly,
Sarah Miller, CEO & Founder, EthoSun
When most people hear "reef-safe sunscreen," they picture tropical beaches and coral reefs. I think we can all agree that protecting marine ecosystems from harmful chemicals is essential. Still, the case for clean, mineral-based sun protection goes far beyond the shoreline—it's about protecting all environments where we live, play, and compete, which is part of the fabric of our lives.
My career has taken me from the sidelines of the NFL to the hardwood of the NBA to the fairways of the PGA. I've watched athletes pour every ounce of themselves into their sport—pushing past exhaustion, pain, and pressure—only to face a quieter, invisible opponent: the relentless power of the sun.
Golf, in particular, is the only major sport played entirely under the open sky, sunrise to sunset, across climates and continents. The world's top players spend more hours in direct UV exposure than nearly any other athletes. Are they truly protected, or are they sacrificing their long-term health for short-term benefits?
Golf isn't just a leisure pastime; it's a global stage. That's millions of people around the world—players, caddies, coaches, volunteers, and fans—living their lives outdoors. The professional schedule is unforgiving: The Masters, the WM Phoenix Open, the PGA Tour, the European Tour (now DP World Tour), and LIV Golf. Players move from humid Southern courses to desert fairways and windswept links, with no escape from the UV index. LIV Golf's 2025 tour alone spans four continents, underscoring the fact that UV risk is a universal concern.
We have watched players pause mid-round to reapply sunscreen—not as a performance for the cameras, but out of necessity, because the heat and glare are that intense. I've seen the telltale streaks of mineral SPF left behind after hours in the sun, and I've observed players with decades of competition behind them make sun protection as much a part of their routine as selecting a club or reading a green.
The reality is stark: prolonged UV exposure without proper protection accelerates skin aging, increases melanoma risk, and can compromise immune function. For athletes competing at the highest levels, this isn't a distant concern—it's a present-day challenge that demands immediate attention. Yet many players still rely on outdated sunscreen formulas that leave white casts, feel greasy under pressure, or wash away with sweat. The disconnect between what athletes need and what's available has been a persistent problem in professional sports.
That's where the conversation shifts. Modern mineral sunscreens have evolved dramatically. They're no longer the thick, chalky products of decades past. Today's formulations offer broad-spectrum protection, water resistance, and a finish that works with athletic performance rather than against it. For golfers spending six hours under the sun, this matters tremendously. A sunscreen that doesn't interfere with grip, vision, or comfort becomes part of the game itself.
Golf's stage is as iconic as its competition. That visibility makes it a powerful platform to normalize healthy habits. Just as etiquette and sportsmanship define the game, sun protection should be an integral part of its culture. When a Ryder Cup crowd sees top players applying SPF or LIV champions speaking about sun care, fans notice. Young golfers notice. The message becomes clear: sun protection is professional. It's serious. It's non-negotiable.
This isn't just about golfers. It's about every outdoor sport, from football training camps in blistering August to baseball spring training and beyond. Every athlete knows that preparation is the key to performance, but preparation has to extend to skin health, because careers and lives depend on it. The athletes who will dominate their sports in the next decade won't just be the ones with the best technique—they'll be the ones who understand that longevity requires protecting every aspect of their health, including their skin.
Leadership in sun safety isn't about big ad campaigns; it's about the small, consistent actions that protect longevity. In sports, discipline is everything. Sun protection should be no different. When players treat sunscreen application with the same rigor they apply to their training regimen, the culture shifts. When tournaments provide quality mineral sunscreen at every station, the expectation becomes normalized. When coaches emphasize UV protection as part of injury prevention, young athletes internalize the message early.
The conversation around sun safety in professional golf is evolving, and it's time for it to accelerate. We're not just talking about preventing sunburns or reducing skin cancer risk—though those are critical. We're talking about enabling athletes to perform at their peak while protecting their health for decades beyond their competitive careers. We're talking about setting an example for millions of people who look up to these athletes and want to emulate their dedication.
When the biggest tournaments treat sunscreen as essential as a driver or a putter, the message is clear: sun safety isn't optional. It's tradition. It's performance. And it's how we keep athletes and the games we love thriving for decades to come.
Sun Responsibly,
Sarah Miller, CEO & Founder, EthoSun
The reality is stark: prolonged UV exposure without proper protection accelerates skin aging, increases melanoma risk, and can compromise immune function. For athletes competing at the highest levels, this isn't a distant concern—it's a present-day challenge that demands immediate attention. Yet many players still rely on outdated sunscreen formulas that leave white casts, feel greasy under pressure, or wash away with sweat. The disconnect between what athletes need and what's available has been a persistent problem in professional sports.
That's where the conversation shifts. Modern mineral sunscreens have evolved dramatically. They're no longer the thick, chalky products of decades past. Today's formulations offer broad-spectrum protection, water resistance, and a finish that works with athletic performance rather than against it. For golfers spending six hours under the sun, this matters tremendously. A sunscreen that doesn't interfere with grip, vision, or comfort becomes part of the game itself.
Golf's stage is as iconic as its competition. That visibility makes it a powerful platform to normalize healthy habits. Just as etiquette and sportsmanship define the game, sun protection should be an integral part of its culture. When a Ryder Cup crowd sees top players applying SPF or LIV champions speaking about sun care, fans notice. Young golfers notice. The message becomes clear: sun protection is professional. It's serious. It's non-negotiable.
This isn't just about golfers. It's about every outdoor sport, from football training camps in blistering August to baseball spring training and beyond. Every athlete knows that preparation is the key to performance, but preparation has to extend to skin health, because careers and lives depend on it. The athletes who will dominate their sports in the next decade won't just be the ones with the best technique—they'll be the ones who understand that longevity requires protecting every aspect of their health, including their skin.
Leadership in sun safety isn't about big ad campaigns; it's about the small, consistent actions that protect longevity. In sports, discipline is everything. Sun protection should be no different. When players treat sunscreen application with the same rigor they apply to their training regimen, the culture shifts. When tournaments provide quality mineral sunscreen at every station, the expectation becomes normalized. When coaches emphasize UV protection as part of injury prevention, young athletes internalize the message early.
The conversation around sun safety in professional golf is evolving, and it's time for it to accelerate. We're not just talking about preventing sunburns or reducing skin cancer risk—though those are critical. We're talking about enabling athletes to perform at their peak while protecting their health for decades beyond their competitive careers. We're talking about setting an example for millions of people who look up to these athletes and want to emulate their dedication.
When the biggest tournaments treat sunscreen as essential as a driver or a putter, the message is clear: sun safety isn't optional. It's tradition. It's performance. And it's how we keep athletes and the games we love thriving for decades to come.