Golf in the Olympics!

Some very negative posts on this.

Just to play devil's advocate,

don't people think that this is great for this sport of ours that we all love, that it manages to reach to all 4 corners of the world and bring people from a huge host of countries together to compete.

and that for every 4 years players can play alongside each other and it doesn't matter where they are from or what tour they play on?
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We already have this its called " The Open " and next year its at St Andrews cant ask for any higher accolade than that.
Don't think its a good idea, but should be like football which is under23's ,which in a way promotes younger talent.
 
With all types of sport now creaping, or have crept in, I can't in fairness say golf should be left out.

Do we know the plan, who's going to play, what the format will be? When that comes out clearly, then I could give a better opinion, but I do think it should be Amateur though, as I think it will turn out nothing more than a half hearted RC style event with the expected players involved.

It should be amateur and give newcommers a leapfrog into the big pro game.
 
I can't see this being a television spectator sport as far as the Olympics are concerned. To air it properly would take a dedicated channel soley for the golf as it takes too long. Most Olympic sports are over a short duration, some take seconds rather than minutes never mind hours.
Already there are olympic events that never make the TV. My son used to be a National Shooter and always moaned that there was never any decent coverage of the shooting. :(
 
Pandering to the inflated egos of a select few of the top golfers who just don't feel complete without a gong around their necks. Personally I think Tiger is only supporting this so vigorously so he has one up on Jack Nicklaus.Golf in the olympics not for me sorry. :mad:
 
No No No No No This should be left to amateurs not multi millionaire jet set golfers.
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Exactly what i thought i mean as much as we know that the pros would love to represent their country in the olympics i think that seeing as they've got their majors and that we should let the amatuers compete cause not only does that give amatuers something to work towards and compete in but also it gives me a chance to make an olympic event :cool: :D
 
Depending on how they organise the events, anyone who is anyone will be wanting to win the Gold medal for their country.

Lets not just talk about Tiger Woods here, there are many golfers from Europe with no big wins to their name who will see this as a huge oppurtunity to win something huge. Not just for themselves but for their country.

I for one think it could be a superb event for the Olympics
 
Surely it'l just be the chopper Pro's that will be competing tho....the 'real'Pro's will be gearing up for USPGA and chasing Ryder Cup points not playing in this mickey mouse event.
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Can't beleive people think the Olympics are a Mickey Mouse Event! Lets celebrate that our sport now has a chance to be broadcast during the biggest sports event of that particular year. I agree maybe some of the top American players may shy away because they either can't be bothered or there is no money in it for them, or they don't like team events, but does it really matter? Surely the best thing is to enlighten the large audience out there that golf can be interesting, what if..... Tiger and Paddy do play and end up in the last group on the final round chasing the gold medal. Are you really not going to watch?

I'm in favour, got to be more interesting than watch bowls or clay pidgen shooting, any day.
 
Some very negative posts on this.

Just to play devil's advocate,

don't people think that this is great for this sport of ours that we all love, that it manages to reach to all 4 corners of the world and bring people from a huge host of countries together to compete.

and that for every 4 years players can play alongside each other and it doesn't matter where they are from or what tour they play on?
Click to expand...

It looks like it'll be a bit of a joke event....if,and this for me is a huge if,the top 15 world ranked players do play then the rest of the 60 players would be eligible based on the world rankings outside the top 15, with a maximum of two eligible players from each country that does not already have two or more players among the top-15.....that tells me that there is going to be pretty mediocre players playing and the winner will be Fred Usual......boring boring boring.By all means open the game up to all corners of the globe but make it Amatuers not Pro's...I don't think Tiger will give a toss about playing in an event against a poor poor field bar his 14 muckers from the top 15 in the world.
 
Will be interested to see what the format will be. I can only imagine something similar to the current world cup format?

How it fits in on the schedule will be interesting with the Majors and WGC's

I think its good that golf is in but I would like to have seen it restricted to the top amateurs.
 
Should leave sports like golf, tennis or football to their own major competitions. It has gone through so i agree it should be the best amateurs and not the big money makers. :)
 
IMHO. Is golf easily understood by the general population? Probably not.

You look at what sports are popular among the masses regarding the Olympics. Or at least what's televised the most.

They are simple concepts. The 100 metres, quick easy to see who's won etc.

Will golf, even as an Olympic sport, generate any further worldwide interest? Probably not, as you won't be able to watch it. It'll be some quick soundbite from Claire Balding at 12:50 at night. And that's from a country where the sport is played.

I can understand why the IOC want the big guns there, but it's against the tradition of ameters in the Olympics.

I'm not against it being in the Olympics. It's just that it smacks of big business dealings.
 
personally, I think it should be like the WGC Matchplay event but limited to amateurs only. Most of the Pros who want to play in it won't qualify anyway. You're going to get the top 15 in the world and then 2 guys from Papua New Guinea/Ghana/Chile/Latvia etc etc who nobody's ever heard of and have even less chance of winning.
 
I don't get what's in it for the pros.

A gold medal ?

ONE gold medal, and no money for 2nd ?

Why would the top 15 want to play with such crappy odds of taking home the bacon?

Or will backhanders be in place to ensure a good turnout?
 
Every other sport in the Olympics are knockout events, with heats, the winner going through to the quarters, semi's and ultimately the final. Golf should be no exception. If they must play the sport in the Olympics it has to be Match play with players from every nation taking part not just established countries and certainly not just pro's. Joe blogs from something-a-stan should have just as much right to play against Tiger as the multi millionaire pro's. That is what the Olympics is all about. Remember Eric the eel in the swimming, he could hardly get to the finish but he got his chance to give it a go against the very best.
 
That would totally change my stance on it I was against it being another meaningless stroke play event - But If they made it Matchplay that would be different we don't see the pros play enough matchplay
 
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