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Players pulling out of Olympics

  • Thread starter Thread starter Deleted member 15344
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Slab said:
I guess a lot of the 'mesmerised' didn't watch all the GB ladies matches? Wasn't it just the latter stages or even just the final that got folks attention?
How did they change the normal curling format for the Olympics to make it more exciting?

Plenty will only have watched the final of the womens curling as opposed to every round, which compares to new viewers only watching the final 18 holes (or just the back 9 even)

I've no idea how well it'll do in achieving the goal of increasing awareness etc for golf but formatting it like a ryder cup in the hope it'll achieve the same excitement levels just wouldn't work
The ryder cup has taken decades to get to the levels of hype, presentation and intense rivalry it has now. Would it still be as exciting if you added another 20 or 30 nations to it this year?

It'd be great to think we could get excitement like that without having to wait 2 years for it to come round again but the Olympics isn't the place to introduce another 2-team tournament
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Yes it was just the latter stages but we still watched.

I have no idea how/if the format of curling was changed, I'd never watched it before, did it matter? Whatever the format the I assume the basics are the same?

I haven't suggested any format, I just don't think a 72 hole strokeplay tournament is any way to "showcase" golf, if that is the intention by including it.

IMHO The Olympics isn't the place for golf at all.
 
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I think the whole thing risks being seen as a crashing bore and confirming the views and prejudices of those who don't like the sport for what it is or for they think it stands for (white middle class elitism).

And that I think is a key difference between curling and golf. Curling had few negative perceptions other than for being a bit weird - so when matches between teams were tight with skips going head-to-head in the last stones of each end with everything to be played for until one team couldn't lose - then it became quite exciting. Curling had few negative perceptions to overcome, golf has significant negative perceptions to overcome.
 
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There agree two issues and both legitimate. The Zika virus is a big public health issue. At first it was thought to be a local problem but now has the potential to become a problem in Europe and the US too, and the potential damage is wider than first thought and I wouldn't blame anyone with reservations. I would be a bit wary of a trip to South America myself and many US companies are restricting travel for their employees. As far as the Olympics itself, I think people are moving on from the idea of a shiny gold medal to realising it is really a bit of a distraction. The average punter in golf world doesn't really think it is a big deal and the players would much rather win a major than a gold medal.

I wouldn't blame him for pulling out.

I think it would be a better event if it was restricted to lower ranking players/lesser golfing nations or amateurs anyway.
 
Ethan said:
There agree two issues and both legitimate. The Zika virus is a big public health issue. At first it was thought to be a local problem but now has the potential to become a problem in Europe and the US too, and the potential damage is wider than first thought and I wouldn't blame anyone with reservations. I would be a bit wary of a trip to South America myself and many US companies are restricting travel for their employees. As far as the Olympics itself, I think people are moving on from the idea of a shiny gold medal to realising it is really a bit of a distraction. The average punter in golf world doesn't really think it is a big deal and the players would much rather win a major than a gold medal.

I wouldn't blame him for pulling out.

I think it would be a better event if it was restricted to lower ranking players/lesser golfing nations or amateurs anyway.
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Rory probably has access to much more detailed info on the risks and extent of the problem than the average punter so I agree it will be a legitimate concern for him (I wouldn’t be packing my sequined speedos for a Rio trip anytime soon)

We've been over the format/players on separate threads but when you’re trying to get ongoing inclusion to the games for a reintroduced sport why would you send anything other than the very best available/eligible, to make your case?

Plenty on here admit they wouldn’t watch a televised tour comp from one of the feeder tours or a top amateur comp so what hope is there that the wider public would get behind it just because its the Olympics?
 
From the official Olympic web site.

In Rio, the world's best golfers will be part of the Olympic Games for the first time in more than a century, and the lure of a gold medal is sure to attract the sport's biggest names.

Think they may need to edit that a bit....;)

I suspect that many top golfers are now realising how packed a schedule it is this year, especially those who will be playing in The Ryder Cup. And they won't take much convincing to pull out of what I suspect many see as the lowest priority golf wise, the Olympics. And the Zika virus is their get out of jail relatively free card to do this. Expect more to follow Rory. And I suspect the Ryder Cup captains will not be too upset if their star players pull out.
 
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Slab said:
Rory probably has access to much more detailed info on the risks and extent of the problem than the average punter so I agree it will be a legitimate concern for him (I wouldn’t be packing my sequined speedos for a Rio trip anytime soon)

We've been over the format/players on separate threads but when you’re trying to get ongoing inclusion to the games for a reintroduced sport why would you send anything other than the very best available/eligible, to make your case?

Plenty on here admit they wouldn’t watch a televised tour comp from one of the feeder tours or a top amateur comp so what hope is there that the wider public would get behind it just because its the Olympics?
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I'd argue it's more to do with the format than the players. Completely understandable that Golf Inc wants the star names there, but there could have potentially been many more exciting formats to use that would capture the 'not normally golf watching' public's imagination. Which is what it needs to do, not a lot of point playing to the hardcore golf audience.
 
HomerJSimpson said:
I might be overly cynical but I think McIlroy is looking for an excuse not to go without attracting any sort of flak in the press
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I don't really think that's the case - he tends to be more upfront than most, he says at this point he's still going, he sounds to me like it's more of a genuine (and justifiable) concern; he's getting his jabs and monitoring the situation. I think if the Americans & English decide to pull out he may follow. Although both nations potential representatives haven't really made much comment as far as I know?
 
rksquire said:
I don't really think that's the case - he tends to be more upfront than most, he says at this point he's still going, he sounds to me like it's more of a genuine (and justifiable) concern; he's getting his jabs and monitoring the situation. I think if the Americans & English decide to pull out he may follow. Although both nations potential representatives haven't really made much comment as far as I know?
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Did you also swallow all that PR nonsense when he walked off the course at the Honda classic in a sulk but claimed he had a toothache? Chinny reckon;) . He's not going.
 
Does anyone know are the banned performance enhancing drugs for golf the same as the ones for the Olympics ?

If different, could it mean that some golfers are taking legal stuff golfwise, but would not reach Olympic requirements. And so prefer to pull out with some excuse, rather than go off a PED otherwise legal to them just for one tourny.
 
Hacker Khan said:
Did you also swallow all that PR nonsense when he walked off the course at the Honda classic in a sulk but claimed he had a toothache? Chinny reckon;) . He's not going.
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The thing about that is he was subsequently embarrassed by his actions, lesson learned. But you might be right - maybe he wasn't pleased to win the Irish Open and didn't give the prize money to the foundation! Damn my gullible nature! :o

But really, he has no reason to lie about this - the ground work has been done by the Australians & South Africans! He's opened the door slightly to not going, but I still think he's going as it stands - for a number of reasons, he's representing Ireland (which caused a hullabaloo, so not going renders that pointless), he wouldn't want to let McGinley down and he's motivated by his own legacy, achievement and history (he'd be afraid to miss out!).
 
rksquire said:
The thing about that is he was subsequently embarrassed by his actions, lesson learned. But you might be right - maybe he wasn't pleased to win the Irish Open and didn't give the prize money to the foundation! Damn my gullible nature! :o

But really, he has no reason to lie about this - the ground work has been done by the Australians & South Africans! He's opened the door slightly to not going, but I still think he's going as it stands - for a number of reasons, he's representing Ireland (which caused a hullabaloo, so not going renders that pointless), he wouldn't want to let McGinley down and he's motivated by his own legacy, achievement and history (he'd be afraid to miss out!).
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I'll bet you a virtual pint he doesn't go.
 
I have a feeling he won't go, especially if he has a great summer and picks up a major or two - he may want a rest before the Ryder Cup.
 
At this rate if you are free in August and can manage to get round in under 100 you may well be in the Olympic golf team.
 
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