I'm totally late coming to the "Cigar Guy" phenomenon... So last week, this great photo of Tiger Woods at the 2010 Ryder Cup started circulating. Neat.
While the shot is pretty cool, with the ball's trajectory -- as well as everyone's gaze -- heading straight for the camera, the best part is undeniably the Cigar Guy. You know who I'm talking about. And of course, he instantly became an online sensation: Tiger Woods Cigar Guy Photo Becomes Massive Meme.
Move over, Sad Keanu. It's all about Cigar Guy. And after quite a bit of buzz and plenty of searching, the grinning, mustached Cigar Guy has finaly been identified, thanks to The London Daily Mail: Cigar guy unmasked: Global phenomenon is a (rather embarrassed) City analyst who lives at home with his mum and dad.
On Sunday, UK Daily Mail photographer Mark Pain became part of the Ryder Cup after a failed chip shot by Woods struck his lens. But before that happened, Pain actually took a picture of the ball heading right for him, which included Woods and the crowd. Yet one member of that crowd has become an Internet sensation.
The photo phenomenon has to do with a face to the right of the crowd. The man is chomping a cigar, wearing a brown turban that covers long hair, and appears to have a bemused smile on his face. The sight of this man has become even more popular than seeing a flying golf ball up close.
As such, photoshoppers have gotten to work in making Cigar Guy a new Internet meme. One picture has his face digitally inserted on the entire crowd, including Woods. Others have his face placed on album covers and other sports figures.
Cigar Guy is Rupesh Shingadia, a 30-year-old investment analyst who lives in South London. Just a regular dude. Hmm. I think I kind of liked him better when he was the fabled, mythic Cigar Guy. More here: Mystery solved! At last, Cigar Guy's secret identity revealed!
And just for fun, here are The 17 Funniest Smiling Cigar Guy Pics.