It's funny how a topic comes up every 6 months or so and everyone gets on a bandwagon, but nothing ever seems to get done. Well, maybe now that PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem has finally announced his support of golf being an Olympic sport, it just might happen.
Golf was part of the Olympics in 1900 and 1904, but some dorks (I'm using a Christina Lecuyer term of endearment here :)) decided all that should change and so 104 years later, we're still debating an issue which should be a no-brainer..
Last fall Phil Mickelson came forward and said “I think if golf became an Olympic sport, it would help golf on a global basis."
Ernie Els and Nick Faldo are somewhat supportive but think it should be for the top amateurs only. But the Olympic Committee has made it clear they don't want golf unless the world's best players would compete and that means Tiger Woods.
Unfortunately, Tiger shares Els' and Faldo's view, making it clear he wouldn't compete, "It would be great to have an Olympic gold medal," he said, "but if you asked any player, 'Would you rather have an Olympic gold medal or green jacket or Claret Jug', more players would say the majors."
Hmmm...I wonder about that...
Look what the last Claret Jug winner Padraig Harrington said, "Some golfers say we now have four majors and that is enough. But the four majors were not the four majors 70 years ago. You never know, in 50 years maybe the Olympics will be the No. 1 major. It has to start somewhere. I would put in on my schedule now."
I like the way you think Padraig!
There are lots of arguments against golf in the Olympics and its effect on sponsors and the PGA Tour in its prime schedule. But I agree with USGA Executive Director David Fay who, like Lefty, says we have to think globally, "Golf in the Olympics could grow the game worldwide, particularly in places where it's not that big. Take countries like Croatia or Russia. In order to jump-start interest and support of the sport in these countries, you need money. The best way to get that is through two sources —- your government or the national Olympic committee, For these countries, there's no substitute for it being an Olympic medal sport."
Anything that grows interest in golf gets my full support. And anything that can grow interest in women's golf gets my undying gratitude! Apparently the LPGA has previously indicated their support, so hopefully women and men will be on the Olympic greens together in 2012.
But you just never know...2010 is full of controversy over women's ski jumpers not being allowed to compete in Vancouver. Surely the IOC wouldn't make two sexual discrimation blunders in one decade.
Golfgal
Icon image by: © Sabri Deniz Kizil | Dreamstime.com
Clearing hazards for an Olympic tee time
Nicole Jeffery Golf Additional reporting: Agencies
The Australian
17 Apr 2008
THE sport’s push for inclusion in the 2016 Olympic Games gained momentum yesterday with the endorsement of USPGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem. The co-operation of the allpowerful USPGA Tour is essential if the sport is to return to the Games after an...read more...
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