Not all players in tune with music during preparations

Harris English is a little bit country. Graeme Mc­Dow­ell is a little bit rock ’n’ roll.

Marc Leishman concedes he’s not a huge music fan but knows what he likes – and what he doesn’t – as he listens to the radio on the way to the golf course.

“I try to put on some sort of happy song, not an angry song,” the Australian said this week at Augusta Na­tio­nal Golf Club. “Norma­lly that last song you listen to sticks in your head. You don’t want the last one to be an annoying song.”

A survey of golfers showed music preferences as international as the field at this year’s Masters.

English, a University of Geor­gia graduate, has a definite Peach State flavor to his playlist. He enjoys Athens-connected bands Futurebirds, Drive-by Truck­ers and Widespread Pa­nic for practice sessions at home.

“I kind of mix it up,” he said. “I never really like to get too jacked up on the course. It’s more like country or bluegrass or jam bands.”

McDowell favors the music of his youth when practicing at his Orlando, Fla., home.

“Some ’80s rock, some old-school club music from back in Europe,” McDowell said, also listing more current rock bands Coldplay and Snow Patrol. “It just depends on what mood I’m in.”

Coldplay has another fan in Masters rookie Bryson De­Chambeau, 22, who also likes to relax to instrumental scores from movies as varied as Finding Nemo and American Beauty.

“Just great scores that are really emotional,” he said.

Henrik Stenson’s tastes run a wide variety, he said, as he seeks both relaxation and getting himself into a good mood.

“I like something with a good beat. I still chill even though it’s got a good beat,” he said. “Some of the more beaty ones from Sweden” are Avicii and Swedish House Mafia.

None of these pros said they listen to music while warming up or playing a practice round at PGA Tour events, but they know others who do, including Patrick Reed and Ian Poulter.

“I’m easily distracted – like in my school report,” Poul­ter said. “If I’ve got earbuds in – it sounds bad – but you can kind of get away with being tunnel-visioned and not being pulled left, right and center. I just try and do it as much as I can, where I can. I’ll have them in (Thursday) morning to maximize the time I have leading into the round of golf. It works. …”

Ireland’s Shane Lowry turns off the music when he gets to the course. He tried listening while at the driving range, and it affected his rhythm a bit.

Scotland native Russell Knox tried using earbuds on the course but found it a “hassle.”

“I don’t know why people do it while they’re warming up,” he said. “You can’t do it while you play. To me, it’s pointless.””