2022 Zurich Classic: Rating This Year’s ‘Walk-Up’ Songs In Louisiana

The Zurich Classic of New Orleans is one of the PGA’s more unique stops on the Tour calendar each year, it is known both for its unique team-event format that adds a breath of fresh air into the schedule for players and fans alike, and for its spectacular weekend ‘walk-up’ music tradition.

It is part of the reward bestowed upon the lucky handful of teams that make it through the cut and get to play the weekend. Players began their rounds on Saturday by continuing a tradition that has been around since 2018, a year after the Zurich Classic was reinvented into the team event that we see today. Each team collectively chose a song to be played upon their introductions on the first tee of the day,  some of the choices fantastically represent the duo, and then there are the others that just don’t seem to work or are a strangely bizarre choice altogether.

With the final round set to be played and team Schauffele/Cantlay holding a firm grasp on this year’s tournament with 18 holes remaining, let’s dive into some of the best walk-up song choices in 2022, and some that should be reconsidered going into next year. The scientifically complex rating system that is otherwise known as my own personal opinion will be used for the evaluation process.

The Undoubtedly Best Walk-Up Songs Of The 2022 Zurich Classic

Cantlay/Schauffele

‘House Of The Rising Sun’  – The Animals

Any team that strolls out to a classic song about Louisiana gets double points, and that is exactly what the leaders elected to go with this week. It perhaps is fitting that their haunting song choice mirrors the duo’s performance over the rest of this week’s field up to this point, as the pair have been electric and given little hope to the competition thus far.

Varner III/Watson

‘Coming In Hot’ -Andy Mineo, Lecrae

This song fits the duo perfectly and it is easy to see how the pair could hit the course fired up after listening to it. The song could represent both HV3’s personal form coming into this week (T3-RBC Heritage), and their performance as a team going into Sunday. Team Varner III/Watson fired off a 64, eight under Par round on Saturday, and are in good shape for a top 10 finish or better this week.

Burns/Horschel

‘Louisiana Saturday Night’ -Mel McDaniel

Another choice that receives bonus points this week, this is a fun choice for Burns, the Louisiana native, and his partner for the week Horschel. Hopefully, for their sake, they are not having too much fun out in Louisiana on Saturday night as they are still within touching distance of the lead going into the final round of the 2022 Zurich Classic.

Gooch/Homa

‘Devastated’ – Joey Bada$$

This is another catchy song that can serve as a great motivational tune before taking to the course. The song could also speak to both Homa and Gooch’s individual circumstances on the Tour as both have ‘tasted greatness’ in recent times, Gooch picking up his first PGA win this season at the RSM Classic last year, and Homa winning twice in 2021, first at the Genesis Invitational and then at the Fortinet Championship.

Would have made this list:

Laird/MacIntyre

‘We Will Rock You’ – Red Hot Chilli Pipers

The ever-popular ‘We Will Rock You’ by Queen was given a spectacular twist in this reinvented Bagpipe playing version of the hit classic, for Laird/MacIntyre (a.k.a. Team Scotland) this was an exceptional choice that undoubtedly would have gotten the juices flowing as they took to the course, had they made the weekend.

The Undoubtedly ‘Didn’t Work and Should be Passed on to Another Team’ at Next Year’s Zurich Classic

Personal Note: All of these songs are great, this is just my personal reflection on whether or not the song choice is suitable for the chosen team in this specific event using my complex ‘evaluation formula’.  

Rose/Stenson

‘All of Me (Tiesto’s Birthday Treatment Remix Radio Edit)’ – John Legend, Jason Agel, Tiesto

These two have been teaming up together for quite a long time now and were making their fourth appearance as teammates at the Zurich Classic this week. This song choice is an interesting one though, it has a catchy beat for sure, but it wouldn’t be top of my list in the motivational ‘let’s go play golf and tear up the course category’. Perhaps the song speaks more about the team’s long-lasting partnership in this competition and that is why it was chosen. Still, it falls into the ‘doesn’t quite fit’ category for me this week.

Palmer/Scheffler

‘University of Texas Fight Song – Texas Fight’

Another interesting selection and I can’t help but feel that some bribery may have been involved in this selection. Perhaps that is how Palmer coaxed Scottie into partnering up this week in Louisiana. Scheffler of course is a proud University of Texas Longhorn, while Ryan Palmer went to school at rival Texas A&M University. Maybe this has to do more with Texas pride, but either way, it is an interesting choice for a walk-up theme.

Poulter/Lowry

‘Under Pressure [With Queen]’ – David Bowie

This is one of the great classics for sure, and I must admit that this may have been a stroke of genius by the Lowry/Poulter team. I can only assume that their intention was to apply pressure on their competitors all week long with their coordinated pants (trouser) combinations. Perhaps this is what they are referring to when walking out to this great tune, if so it is a genius choice.

For now, however, I’ll assume that I am in fact giving them too much credit and will keep the song choice on this list. The song is great but is it really the motivational tune that you want to take to the course during? or is it the song that makes you acutely aware of how much pressure is on your shoulders before you take to the course in a team event?

Smith/Leishman

‘Pub Feed’  – The Chats

This is a bizarre song choice about going to a pub, but honestly, the real reason this makes the list is due to the question of how you simply replace one of the best walk-up songs in event history? ‘The Mullet Song’ by Jay Powell was a brilliant song choice for this team last year, and one could even argue that the choice of song propelled them on their way to the 2021 Zurich Classic title. Cameron Smith continues to rock the mullet and as such the related song should be a permanent pick for the Australian duo. The fact that it isn’t the pick automatically cements their place here.