#RyderCup Day 1 – Click to Enlarge

Athletes and pundits often refer to “home field advantage” when talking about the potential outcomes of sporting contests. In an event like the Ryder Cup, which (biennially) pits the best golfers in the US against the finest that Europe has to offer, it is perhaps an even bigger factor than usual. The favorable roar of a crowd has often been cited as an emotional factor in helping the home side find the steam to pull out a victory, and that’s true of almost all sports (even golf, where quiet is valued and encouraged).

But what about the crowd you can’t hear, the one following along via social media? Could it be that they too can affect the outcome of a sporting event, if that sporting event plays out over several days?