Last Sunday’s final round of the Honda Classic saw Tommy Fleetwood hit his approach shot into the water on the par-5 18th hole. Was the errant shot caused by a fan yelling “Get in the hole!” during Fleetwood’s backswing?
Gay Ming, VP of the PGA Tour’s gaming division, says emphatically, “Yes!”
“This was part of a test we were running to demonstrate how much fun it is for the wagering golf fan to affect the outcome of a golf tournament … and collect a winning bet,” says Ming. “Imagine if you had a proposition wager that Tommy was going to rinse his ball on the 18th hole. By merely screaming almost any imbecilic remark in his backswing, you could practically assure yourself of being a winner.
“When legalized sports betting comes to every state in which we conduct tournaments, our golf fans will be able to place wagers and improve their odds of winning by being vocal gallery participants. As a spectator, you can’t affect the action during a football or basketball game. Only golf gives you the opportunity to be up-close-and-personal to a PGA Tour player … and leverage your presence to your own financial benefit.
“Of course, what occurred at the Honda Classic was a drill; one of our unpaid interns was responsible for shouting ‘Get in the hole!’ during Tommy’s backswing. But it proved, going forward, that braying like a jackass at a PGA Tour event could put wagering winnings in your pocket. We’re bullish about the future of bringing this exciting gaming opportunity to our fans.”
