Two different worlds have come together. Here are 10 Grateful Dead songs corresponding to some of the world’s best golfers.
The Grateful Dead have provided harmony to millions for six decades, waxing poetic through their lyrics and world-famous jam sessions. You oftentimes get lost in their music, as Jerry Garcia’s guitar would take you to places beyond a cosmic realm. Heck, recordings of their concerts still do — listen to any live show from May 1977, and you will hopefully come to understand.
But the best part about this beloved band lies within the community of Dead Heads, the superfans who travel far and wide, jamming to the Dead while living a life of peace and modesty. Sure, Dead Heads have been known to break some social norms, but they are never afraid to lend a helping hand or let others join in on the fun. It’s an inclusive community where everyone has a shared interest: They love the music. The music loves them. And all walks of life are welcome.
In a similar vein, every golfer is part of a shared society that makes the sport unique: we all love the game. We love to play. We love talking about the game. And the game extends far beyond any borders. Lifelong bonds and relationships are made through golf, just as many have come into fruition on Shakedown Street, the makeshift tailgate scene that makes every Grateful Dead show unlike anything you have ever seen.
You often find yourself lost in nature’s beauty while on the golf course, too, not unlike a tickling live cut of “Sugaree” that makes you lose control of your senses.
Granted, these two spheres are vastly different, but I know plenty of golfers who are Dead Heads — I’m proud to say that many of my close friends are. Plenty of crossover exists, so I embarked on a fun exercise.
What Grateful Dead song properly aligns with a PGA Tour or LIV Golf player? With a little help from my friends, here is the list:
Tiger Woods — “I Know You Rider”
Tiger Woods remains the most popular player on the planet. The sport has never seen anyone like him, but injuries and old Father Time have caught up with him. That never stops golf fans from feeling nostalgic, though. They only want to see him contend — and win —again.
Hence, Tiger’s Grateful Dead song is “I Know You Rider,” a traditional blues song that was a staple in the band’s repertoire. The opening lyrics summarize the golf world’s feelings for Woods now and forever: “I know you, Rider, gonna miss me when I’m gone.”
We all miss watching Woods play at his peak.
Phil Mickelson — “Friend of the Devil”
“Friend of the Devil,” one of the more famous Grateful Dead songs, casts a wider net and reach. Given that Phil Mickelson is one of golf’s most famous players, pairing this short melody with him feels appropriate.
But Mickelson’s early associations with the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF) also give a good reason for this selection. Without Mickelson’s efforts in 2021 and 2022, LIV Golf likely would not have come to fruition. The PIF is the financial arm of the Saudi Kingdom, which has a long history of human rights abuses and other disturbing issues. They use sportwashing to try to distract the world from their sins — the Saudi Crown Prince himself has admitted this.
Therefore, this song suits Mickelson in more ways than one.
Rory McIlroy — “Dark Star”
Another of the Grateful Dead’s most famous ballads, “Dark Star,” would often stretch to 30 or 40 minutes during live performances. It’s a tremendous jam, and whenever you listen, you are amazed by the band’s ability to play for so long. That’s part of why this song suits Rory McIlroy: the Northern Irishman has been at the top of the sport for almost 15 years, excelling at majors and winning PGA Tour events in bunches. His ability to play so well for so long is incredible.
But the opening lines to Dark Star, which come about 15 minutes into the song, reminded me of what happened to McIlroy at Pinehurst No. 2 last summer: “Dark star crashes, pouring its light into ashes; reason tatters, the forces tear loose from the axis; searchlight casting for faults in the clouds of delusion.”
McIlroy is still looking for that illusive fifth major title, a victory he has been searching for since 2015.
Bryson DeChambeau — “Althea”
“Althea” ranks high on Dead Heads’ lists, especially younger ones who became entrenched with this band by way of Dead & Company — a lineup led by John Mayer that includes former Grateful Dead members Bob Weir, Mickey Hart, and Bill Kreutzmann. Mayer’s favorite song is “Althea,” and how he plays it rivals Garcia’s picking. It’s by far the best song Dead & Company currently plays. Mayer initially got hooked on the Dead through this 1980 classic.
Bryson DeChambeau has expanded golf’s reach far and wide through his YouTube and social media channels, bringing a new generation of fans to the sport. That’s part of why “Althea” aligns perfectly with DeChambeau. Both have become immensely popular.
Photo by Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images
But a line tucked in this beautiful song describes a younger DeChambeau perfectly: “Honest to the point of recklessness; self-centered to the extreme.”
Dechambeau has always been brutally candid, unique, and somewhat flamboyant about his approach to the game. Yet, he has said some things that he regrets, such as Augusta National playing as a par-68 for him.
There was also a time when the world revolved around him, perhaps during the pandemic when he bulked up beyond belief. But that is now in the past. Luckily, DeChambeau has matured and has seen his popularity soar, yet “Althea” still fits him to a tee.
Scottie Scheffler — “Eyes of the World”
Scottie Scheffler is the best player on the planet, as he dominated the PGA Tour in 2024. He won a preposterous seven times, which included The Players, The Masters, four Signature Events, and the Tour Championship. Oh, and he won the Gold Medal at the Olympics thanks to a final-round 62. Then, he capped off his year with a dominant performance at the Hero World Challenge.
It was a Tiger Woods-like season, one that will live on in the history books for quite some time. Every day, Scheffler wakes up being the eyes of the sport, which therefore aligns with one of The Dead’s most beautiful songs.
Jordan Spieth — “They Love Each Other”
Perhaps no player-caddy relationship is stronger than Jordan Spieth and Michael Greller, the dynamic duo that has been together through thick and thin.
Greller first met Spieth in 2011, when a then 17-year-old Spieth won the U.S. Amateur in Washington state. Greller was a math teacher at the time, living and working in Seattle. He also caddied on the side, so when the U.S. Junior Amateur came to town, he picked up Spieth’s bag, and you could say that the rest is history. Greller has carried Spieth’s bag ever since, helping him win three majors and make five appearances on the Ryder Cup team.
Every week, these two seem to have enlightening and entertaining conversations as they discuss how to navigate an upcoming shot. Look no further than how Spieth made a par on the par-4 11th at TPC Scottsdale at this year’s WM Phoenix Open. His save required plenty of strategy but also luck, yet it could never have happened without a lengthy consultation with Greller.
Hence, Spieth’s Grateful Dead song is “They Love Each Other.” You can see the admiration these two have for each other week in and week out. “Lord, you can see it’s true.”
Also, Dead & Company’s rendition from their Jun. 25, 2023, show at Fenway Park could very well be the best version of this song anyone has ever heard. Mayer sounds phenomenal, not unlike how Spieth had a terrific 2023 season of his own.
Maverick McNealy — “Wharf Rat”
One of my favorite moments of the young 2025 season came during the late stages of the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. No, it was not Rory McIlroy’s monstrous tee shot on the par-5 14th hole. Rather, it was a moment when CBS cut to commercial. Producer Sellers Shy panned the telecast to an overhead shot of a nearby wharf, and as the camera moved, a riff from “Wharf Rat” played. Not only was this an ode to the scenery, but it was a nod to the Dead themselves, who formed in San Francisco, two hours up the coast from Pebble Beach.
Given that Maverick McNealy grew up in this area, and would often sneak onto Pebble Beach at night to putt and chip on the greens, I felt obligated to associate “Wharf Rat” with him after CBS aired the Dead.
But McNealy is also a licensed pilot and often flies himself to his tournaments — not unlike what Arnold Palmer used to do. Within Wharf Rat, Jerry Garcia sings, “I’ll get up and fly away; I’ll get up and fly away, fly away.”
Jon Rahm — “Fire on the Mountain”
Another of the Grateful Dead’s best songs goes to one of the game’s best players. Jon Rahm remains a top-5 player in the world, even though he joined LIV Golf in December 2023.
He’s also by far and away the best player on LIV, posting a top-10 finish in every event he has played in to date. Rahm has won twice as well, doing so in the United Kingdom and Chicago.
The two-time major winner is off to a solid start in 2025, tying for second at Riydah and finishing solo sixth in Adelaide. Should Rahm keep this form over the six weeks, which includes three more LIV events, the Spaniard will arrive at Augusta National as one of the favorites. Plus, considering he played below his standard last year in his title defense, Rahm will have an added chip on his shoulder, hoping to win a major for the first time since joining LIV. Winning another green jacket would validate that decision.
Nevertheless, Rahm’s association with “Fire on the Mountain” can be associated with this lyric: “You say it’s a livin’, we all gotta eat; But you’re here alone, there’s no one to compete.”
Rahm received north of $500 million to join LIV, and he stands atop the LIV mountain in both career earnings and competitive viability. He’s the class of the league, and nobody has played more consistently than him.
Ludvig Åberg — “Sugar Magnolia”
Ludvig Åberg currently checks all the boxes: he has the perfect swing, Adam Scott-like looks, and an infectious demeanor that makes him instantly likable. Everyone is a fan of Åberg and knows he will only get better as time passes.
He’s “Sugar Magnolia,” which includes this line: “She’s got everything delightful; She’s got everything I need.”
The sweet-swinging Swede has no flaws. He can hit the ball a mile, does so with deadly accuracy, and also has a terrific short game. He’s young, too, making everyone even more jealous of all he has to offer.
Åberg will be a force to be reckoned with for years to come, especially at the Ryder Cup, where his stardom first began to take off in Rome in 2023.
Sam Burns — “Easy Wind”
Sam Burns is as easygoing of a guy as they come.
His favorite activity is hanging out with his family in his native Louisiana. The former LSU Tiger is also an avid hunter and routinely goes on expeditions during the off-season.
Thus, Burns’ Grateful Dead song is “Easy Wind,” which references the Louisiana Bayou throughout: “Easy wind; Cross the Bayou today.”
Burns has made five starts already in 2025 and has made every cut thus far. His best finish came at the season-opening event at The Sentry, where he tied for eighth. Burns most recently tied for 24th at the Genesis Invitational, which included a 3-under 69 during his final round. His next two starts will come at the Arnold Palmer Invitational and The Players, where he hopes his putter will heat up a little more.
Jack Milko is a golf staff writer for SB Nation’s Playing Through. Follow him on X @jack_milko.
