AVONDALE, La. Zurich Classic of New Orleans is not unique because of the team format.
The French Quarter is home to live jazz, and the Jazz Festival usually takes place at the same time as the tournament. This year it did not.
This is the only PGA Tour tournament where golfers can choose their walk-up music before the first tee. This year, at TPC Louisiana this quirky tradition will be replaced by a music DJ. It’s not exactly Don McLean, singing his classic song “American Pie,” “the day music died,” but it could be.
It’s not the Tour’s top priority to have music on the first tee, but it was fun for the players to choose their walkup music. This is usually the music that’s played when a baseball batter steps up to the plate. It was a great way to learn about their musical tastes – do they like heavy metal, or is it Viktor Hovland’s style? It also gave an insight into their personalities. This is what golf needs.
Erik van Rooyen enjoys playing the guitar and, since the Valero Open in Texas has marked his golf ball with a music note it is not surprising that he was against the change.
He said, “I don’t like it.” I think it’s a great idea. It gives the tournament an interesting twist.
The South African was asked what song he’d have used as his walk-up tune. He swiped his phone, tapped it and the classic ’80s hit “Africa” from Toto began to play.
He said, “Just tap your feet.” “Makes you think of home.”
LIV Golf’s club music is blaring throughout the course, and the company touts themselves as “Golf, only louder.” This implies that the PGA Tour has less appeal, and to encourage a younger audience, it is a good idea to play some hip-hop or rock on the range.
Max Homa told the joke, “This isn’t a LIV vs. PGA Tour issue. Please don’t make this about that.” I heard Monahan talk about it at our last PAC Meeting. We discussed the golf ball being too far away, accessibility to the designated event and music too closely aligned with LIV Tour.
If his sarcasm seemed too dry, I’m sure he was just joking. But, I believe he meant it when he said that he would have chosen “Congratulations”, by Post Malone, as his first tee song.
@AdamSchupak confirmed that there will not be walk-ups at this year’s Zurich Classic. I’m even further away from my dream of performing walk-ups live.
Sam Harrop (@sam_golf April 19, 2019
This is the sad reason that players will not be choosing their own songs this year. Last year, more teams decided to not submit a tune than those who wanted participate. It was difficult for tournament organizers to get two players on the same song.
Steve Worthy, the director of the Zurich Classic tournament, noted that they often chase teams “right up to the last moment” and stated that the decision was partly made due to feedback received from players. The tournament had already reduced the music to DJ’s selection on Sunday, but player’s choices on Saturday.
Worthy stated that Sunday’s music was received better.
Music has been used at sporting events for thousands of years, dating back to ancient Greece. It was also tried before in golf. The DP World Tour tried out music for the first tee at the 2017 HSBC Championship in Abu Dhabi.
“To a person, they said, ‘Lets go for the shot,'” said Giles Morgan, former global head of sponsorship at HSBC. You wouldn’t do it at The Open, or even the Masters. That’s because tradition is there. We can test this at the Abu Dhabi Championship. The market will decide whether they like it. Why not? If the players like it, then why wouldn’t you?”
Adam Hadwin, a Tour Pro, said: “I don’t really care to be honest.” He also pointed out that the change has its upsides. “It relieves me of the pressure to write a song.”
The PGA Tour stereotype that its players are a bunch automatons and too bland is a stereotype. We can only hope that van Rooyen and other players who wish to participate will be allowed the chance. We could all do with a little Toto.
Worthy stated that it was not impossible to return to the subject.
Bring back the noise and the funk. Bring back the fight songs from college. Joel Dahmen will get your adrenaline pumping to “Who Let the Dogs out,” while the Alan Parsons Project will make you feel as if it’s just moments before the start of the Michael Jordan home game.
