Baying mob: these children were later ejected for yelling obscenities at Nicolas Colsaerts.
Trading on the questionable reputation of American golf fans abroad — harsh, I know — and European bemusement at the shouting of ironic catchphrases on PGA Tour teeboxes, British bookmaker Betfair has formulated a unique Ryder Cup promotion.
The firm intends to distribute somewhere in the region of 1,000 gobstoppers (large, durable candies), each stamped with the words “get in the hole”, at Medinah this week in the hope of dampening home support.
According to the Daily Mail (where else?), the multi-layered sweets are designed to endure 250 minutes of constant sucking.
[Insert Tiger Woods joke here]
Betfair spokesperson Alex Bake summarised his team’s strategy thusly:
“The atmosphere is going to be intense and the US fans are going to be fired up for the Ryder Cup…
“More than ever the crowds are going to play an important part in deciding the outcome of this golfing battle. Europe are the clear underdogs but by handing out these sweets we hope to tip the playing field in their favour.”
Playful guerrilla marketing or xenophobic weaponization of snackfood? You decide.
Conor Nagle
Honestly, the Tour needs to do something about all ridiculous shouting at these events. People who shout “Get in the hole!” (especially after tee shots) or “You da man!” should be kicked off the course. It’s the same class of clown who tries to start The Wave (especially more than once), bangs away with his Thunderstix, blows on a vuvuzela the whole game, streaks across the field (or tries to), etc. These people should be escorted off the premises, and then taken out back and beaten like Tony Dogs in Casino.