Golf in the Olympics!

[MarkE]

If pro's are allowed in, it's a bad idea. The pinnacle for the elite will always be the majors, so theres no point.
Now, if it's just amateurs, that's a whole new ball game. It would be fantastic for them to aspire to an olympic gold before turning pro.
Obviously that will never happen though. After all the lobbying to get golf involved, they are not going to leave to amateurs. Advertising revenue will only come with pro involvement.

 

[backwoodsman]

I think you have to forget the pro or amateur thing - pretty much everyone who competes at the olympics these days is a pro at their chosen sport. Main criterion is, would winning the olympics be the pinnacle of someones career? For golf, no. The majors are that. Damn silly idea all round if you ask me.

Ps: I read in the papers the format is to be 72 hole stroke play.

 

[TomC]

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?

I think this is a very cynical view,

Why do people want to win the Masters and Open, for money or the prestige of the event?

An Olympic Gold medal is one of the greatest accolades in sport and having the opportunity to win one should be reason enough to want to play.

 

[nomadpaul]

I'm looking forward to it. As long as the players are there for the bragging rights of winning a gold medal and not because the IOC/Sponsors paid a shedload of £££'s or $$$'s for the players to just turn up.

Why not have some fun with the formats ? As well as a 36 hole stroke play section , why not have a 'target golf' section , like shooting/archery with greens/targets set at different distances etc. Would def make it more spectator friendly for non-golf fans !!!

 

[welshjim22]

To me the Olympics is more for the less popular tv sports. Football, Rugby and Golf all have huge fan bases they don't need the Olympics. Leave it to running, swimming and the other smaller sports which don't m,ake the big bucks on their own. It certainly won't do anything to make me watch it.

 

[haplesshacker]

In a stupid moment of thoughtfulness.

The triathlon has become popular. Combining 3 sports together to make one sport. (You can see where I'm going with this now!)

What other two sports could be combined with golf, either played sequentially to golf, like a triathlon, or simultainiously?

Please don't take it too seriously!

 

[USER1999]

Poker and ballroom dancing. They aren't sports either, so would combine well.

 

[viscount17]

on the subject of olympic events that aren't sports, I'd sooner see events being pulled out (eg formation drowning) than more added. there are already too many.

with pros competing, it will be the non-event that tennis is,
with amateurs competing, it will be won by Korea

 

[CrapHacker]

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?

I think this is a very cynical view, I've been watching the game since the 70s. Seve wouldn't turn up to an event without a guarantee of a few bob to make it worth his while. Are you suggesting that the modern player is less money oriented ?

Why do people want to win the Masters and Open, for money or the prestige of the event? Of course everyone wants to win the Open, but without the $$$$ you wouldn't get the top guys turning out. If only one guy can win, there has to be a reason for the rest of the top 15 to bother getting out of bed. And the reason is MONEY

An Olympic Gold medal is one of the greatest accolades in sport and having the opportunity to win one should be reason enough to want to play. Maybe 'should be' but that don't count for diddly squat in this modern world I'm afraid.

Dunno what the rules say nowadays about appearance fees, and player 'expences' and the like, and call me as cynical as you like. But the top pros don't play for fun, they are PRO, and play for money.

It'll be there somewhere, it may be wrapped in in a plain brown wrapper, but it'll be there.

 

[CrapHacker]

Oh, and btw.

Without looking it up.

Who is the Olympic Tennis Champ?

I, for one, haven't got a clue. Coz it just don't matter.

 

[TomC]

Oh, and btw.

Without looking it up.

Who is the Olympic Tennis Champ?

I, for one, haven't got a clue. Coz it just don't matter.

it was the then World number 1, Rafael Nadal