From Bieber to Bizkit: Picking walk-up songs for 10 Zurich Classic duos
The Zurich Classic became a PGA Tour event in 1938, and it’s been held every year since 1958. But with top golfers building their schedules around the majors, the World Golf Championships, and the invitational tournaments, the event struggled to generate much buzz - that is, until last year, when it was transformed into a team event. The 2018 edition of the event will make a new kind of noise.
The last time it was a stroke-play event (2016), only three golfers ranked in the world top 30 played at the Zurich Classic. Last year, it was 13, and this year, 11 of the top 15 golfers in the world will tee it up, including Patrick Reed, Jordan Spieth, Justin Thomas, Jason Day, Justin Rose, and Henrik Stenson.
Eighty two-man teams will play 18 holes of four-ball (best ball) and 18 holes of foursomes (alternate shot) Thursday and Friday, respectively, before making the cut to the low 35 teams and ties at the 35th position. The teams that make the cut will play one more round of four-ball and one more round of foursomes to determine the winning squad - and they have the option to select their own walk-up music as they arrive at the first tee.
“The format will be awesome,” said PGA Tour winner Mackenzie Hughes, who will play with countryman and longtime friend Corey Conners. “It’s cool because it’s different from what we do week to week. Any time you can play with one of your best buddies, it’s pretty cool. The uniqueness of it requires a lot more out of you, in different ways. You have to be prepared for anything.”
As for the music, the options are endless, but here, we suggest some songs that would suit 10 notable Zurich Classic duos if they make the cut.
Wesley Bryan/Jon Rahm
The two seemingly opposite personalities - Rahm is a Spanish spark plug while Bryan is a laid-back Southerner - share a management team and play a ton of practice rounds together.
Song idea: Bryan told the Golf Channel that they'd probably pick something by Justin Bieber, so why not the Luis Fonzi and Daddy Yankee megahit he appeared on, “Despacito”? It was the biggest song on the planet last year, and its Spanish influence makes sense for the duo.
Justin Thomas/Bud Cauley
The two former members of the University of Alabama golf team have had somewhat different trajectories since turning pro (Cauley is still searching for his first win, while Thomas has eight) but they tied for fifth here a year ago.
Song idea: Playing off Alabama’s "Roll Tide," the guys should come to the tee with Limp Bizkit’s “Rollin’” coming out of the speakers.
Justin Rose/Henrik Stenson
The Ryder Cup stalwarts (they are 4-2 as a team) shockingly missed the cut in Louisiana a year ago, but don’t be surprised if they rekindle their magic. Rose won this event when it was a "regular" PGA Tour stop in 2015.
Song idea: They may feel a little prickly after that 2017 disappointment, so they should cue up the chorus of Poison’s “Every Rose Has Its Thorn,” which winks at one of their surnames for good measure.
Jason Day/Ryan Ruffels
Day has a win already in 2018, while fellow Australian youngster Ruffels is looking to break out. They share a management team and they're close on Tour.
Song idea: This is an easy one - they’re men from Australia at work, so Men at Work’s "Down Under" it is.
Padraig Harrington/Shane Lowry
The Irishmen link up for a tremendous country connection this week. Harrington has won six times on the PGA Tour, including three majors, while Lowry has one win on Tour.
Song idea: Really, you could choose any Irish drinking song - Lowry gave out cans of Guinness in the middle of the 2017 Phoenix Open - but let's go with "When Irish Eyes are Smiling."
Tyler Duncan/Adam Schenk
The PGA Tour rookies were both on the Web.com Tour a year ago - Schenk won exactly one year ago this week - and hope to rekindle a collegiate connection.
Song idea: They're both Purdue graduates, and the proud Boilermakers could walk up to the tee to the appropriately titled “Boilermaker” by legendary guitarist Stevie Ray Vaughan.
Patrick Reed/Patrick Cantlay
In Reed’s first PGA Tour appearance since his Masters victory, he should be riding high with the major-championship monkey off his back.
Song idea: Nick Faldo called it out Sunday at Augusta National, but it was already well known that Reed is a big Imagine Dragons fan. If this duo doesn't approach the tee with “Radioactive” playing, it will be a disappointment. Welcome to the new age, indeed.
Smylie Kaufman/Tom Lovelady
Lovelady attended Alabama while Kaufman - a one-time PGA Tour winner - went to LSU. You might assume these two would have a deep SEC hate on for one another, but it’s all love. Kaufman's struggled this year, and perhaps the change in format will do wonders for him. He's got a lot to smile about regardless, since he got married last week.
Song idea: As seen on Instagram, the groomsmen in Kaufman’s wedding enjoyed a singalong to John Denver’s “Take Me Home, Country Roads.” These two country guys should bring back those good vibes.
Jordan Spieth/Ryan Palmer
This Texas twosome came together after Spieth lost a friendly match to Palmer’s caddie James Edmondson, who said Spieth had to play with Palmer at TPC Louisiana if Edmondson won. The pairing may have an unconventional origin, but the golfers are familiar with each other. They finished fourth in 2017, and Spieth is playing well; it's only a matter of time before he gets his first win of 2018.
Song idea: “God Blessed Texas” by Little Texas has been a staple in sports arenas for years, and it should come to the golf course.
Mackenzie Hughes/Corey Conners
These Canadians have played a ton of golf together for Canada’s national team and Kent State University, and should be able to feed off each other. Hughes is a Tour winner already, and so far in his rookie season, Conners has played in the final group Sunday twice.
Song idea: Hughes already confirmed to theScore that they'll play Tom Cochrane’s “Big League” as a tribute to the small community of Humboldt, Saskatchewan. A bus crash in early April killed 16 people associated with the Humboldt Broncos junior hockey team, including 10 players.
Adam Stanley has written about golf since 2011 for PGATOUR.com, LPGA.com, and the Canadian Press, among other organizations. He's also a frequent contributor to The Globe and Mail. Find him on Twitter @adam_stanley.
(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)