Golf’s Olympic inclusion garners mixed reactions
Summer Games ‘just another event’ for some, ‘once-in-a-lifetime’ chance for others
Although Kuchar backs majors over Olympics, the American admits that representing one’s country at the Summer Games may be a “uniquely special” feeling. PHOTO: AFP
LOS ANGELES:
It will be no more than an exhibition sport; it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity; it will be awesome; let’s wait and see how it feels once you get there.
These are among the wide ranging responses from top players as they prepare for golf’s return to the Olympics at next year’s Rio Summer Games after an absence of more than a century, a return embraced by many and panned by others.
For backers, the prospect of golfers walking beside swimmers and athletes at the opening ceremonies in Rio is an intoxicating one but critics argue that golf, like tennis, already has its four blue riband events and should not be an Olympic sport.
Those critics firmly believe that golf’s major championships and the grand slams in tennis represent the pinnacle of achievement in their respective sports and that the allure of an Olympic medal would always rank lower.
“Most of the Olympic sports have their ‘big event’ either once every four years — at the Summer Games — or once every two years with the World Cups and world championships that go on,” said American golfer Matt Kuchar, a seven-time winner on the PGA Tour who has played amateur tennis at a high level. “On the other hand, we [golf and tennis] have our four majors and our four grand slams every year.”
Golf most recently featured as an Olympic sport in St Louis in 1904 and leading players such as American world number one Jordan Spieth and fifth-ranked Swede Henrik Stenson have warmly embraced its return to the Games agenda.
“To be one of those athletes ... walking with the American flag ... it will be awesome if I can make that team,” said Masters and US Open champion Spieth.
Sixty players will compete over 72 holes of strokeplay in both the men’s and women’s events in Rio.
Golfers in the top 15 of the world rankings will automatically be eligible, although no more than four players from any one country can take part.
Stenson, a nine-time winner on the European Tour, said, “I see it as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be part of the Olympics. It’s a cool event and, given my age, it could be the only chance I have.”
Published in The Express Tribune, December 12th, 2015.
It will be no more than an exhibition sport; it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity; it will be awesome; let’s wait and see how it feels once you get there.
These are among the wide ranging responses from top players as they prepare for golf’s return to the Olympics at next year’s Rio Summer Games after an absence of more than a century, a return embraced by many and panned by others.
For backers, the prospect of golfers walking beside swimmers and athletes at the opening ceremonies in Rio is an intoxicating one but critics argue that golf, like tennis, already has its four blue riband events and should not be an Olympic sport.
Those critics firmly believe that golf’s major championships and the grand slams in tennis represent the pinnacle of achievement in their respective sports and that the allure of an Olympic medal would always rank lower.
“Most of the Olympic sports have their ‘big event’ either once every four years — at the Summer Games — or once every two years with the World Cups and world championships that go on,” said American golfer Matt Kuchar, a seven-time winner on the PGA Tour who has played amateur tennis at a high level. “On the other hand, we [golf and tennis] have our four majors and our four grand slams every year.”
Golf most recently featured as an Olympic sport in St Louis in 1904 and leading players such as American world number one Jordan Spieth and fifth-ranked Swede Henrik Stenson have warmly embraced its return to the Games agenda.
“To be one of those athletes ... walking with the American flag ... it will be awesome if I can make that team,” said Masters and US Open champion Spieth.
Sixty players will compete over 72 holes of strokeplay in both the men’s and women’s events in Rio.
Golfers in the top 15 of the world rankings will automatically be eligible, although no more than four players from any one country can take part.
Stenson, a nine-time winner on the European Tour, said, “I see it as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be part of the Olympics. It’s a cool event and, given my age, it could be the only chance I have.”
Published in The Express Tribune, December 12th, 2015.