Everyone knows that golf is that most genteel of sports. In fact, it is probably the only sporting competition, where officials hold up signs emblazoned with the word "quiet," so golfers can putt in relative peace.
At least, that is usually the case.
"We want them to be as loud and as politely obnoxious, as we can possibly be," says Medinah Country Club pro Michael Scully. "This is the Bears' Super Bowl, the Chicago Blackhawks' Stanley Cup Win, the Chicago White Sox World Series win, all wrapped up in one!"
You heard right. The U.S. hosts of this year's Ryder Cup are encouraging attendees to be wild and crazy guys.
And girls.
"This is very important that this cup comes back to U.S. soil," Scully says.
Ryder Cup veterans say in recent years, Ryder Cup matches have more closely resembled college football games than stops on the PGA tour. Face painting and air horns are not out of the question. And Scully says after the last few contests on European soil, some payback is in order.
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"They were loud and boisterous to us in 2010, and it goes all the way back to 1991, the "war on the shore" in Kiawah (South Carolina), and this is what it's become. The Ryder Cup has become one of those events that transcends all of sport."
Euro-centric fans walking the cart paths at Medinah Thursday said they were more than up to the challenge.
"They haven't got a chance anyway," said Robert Dicketts of Great Britain. "Our guys will be focused all the way around."
"I think people should just be patriotic and speak up for what they want," said Neil Eccleshall of Wales. "If the U.S. is shouting, the Europeans will shout louder."
Ulf Gustafson of Norway was a bit more blunt.
"Like the old vikings, we've come to plunder, and carry the women and the gold with us!"
For some, all of this carrying on might be a bit too much to take. You know, it doesn't sound like..... golf!
At that, Scully just laughed.
"It's the Ryder Cup!"
