Players pulling out of Olympics

[palindromicbob]

Willett and Rose confirmed today they are both keen to go.

Are any other sports being affected by so many pull outs?

Just watched local news and they are running a series of interviews with local athletes who have been selected for Rio and they are all very excited and looking forward to representing GB.

Considering that this is the pinnacle of most of the other sports at the Olympics I'd doubt it. All this is doing is highlighting how it's not a big deal for professional golfers. Change to elite amature and team match play and there wouldn't be many drop outs but televised coverage wouldn't be as appealing.

 

[Garush34]

First female to pull out now - http://www.golfchannel.com/news/gol...-pace-becomes-first-female-wd-olympics-062916

 

[Hacker Khan]

I am firmly in the camp that if th eOlympic isn't the top event in a sport it shouldn't be there. I understand why some/many of the top golfers aren't going.

However, in terms of money events golf is fairly similar to tennis, and they have managed to get the stars to play the olympics. I remember Steffi Graf winning the 1st gold medal, Boris and Stich getting the gold in the double. And Murray the last time around.

So why does tennis accept the olympics but golf doesn't?

In this instance a lot is to do with the location and the scheduling. I am willing to bet if it would have been introduced at the London games and it was not in a Ryder Cup year then you would have got a lot more buy in from the top players. The fact that it is in a relatively dangerous city, the small risk of diseases plus the packed schedule probably tips the balance in favour of giving it a miss for a lot of players.

I was listening to a good podcast on this yesterday and they basically said you are trying to get the top independent contractors in their field to fly a very long way to a relatively dangerous and unfamiliar place, in a very busy year for golf, be away for up to 10 days, not be able to use their sponsors clothing in a lot of cases, win no money for a new golf tournament that has no history and probably has very little value to a lot of them.

When the ideas was originally muted Tiger was the most famous sports person in the world and the idea of having him at the Olympics was very attractive. The intention was also that it would help grow the game in areas where it does not have much of a foothold. Now Tiger is a busted flush and the top players probably do not care that much to go in order to grow the game in Russia or India. At this rate the field will be equal to that of a low level PGA tour even, may be even a Web.com event the way it is going.

 

[garyinderry]

Is there a list of golfers who are actually playing at it?

 

[Tashyboy]

Well my bats are ready if they need me to step in. For me the chance to represent your country is an honour. The fact there is no brass on the table is not even a consideration. It would of been a chance for some over pampered stars a chance to give something back to the game.
If they don't want to go fine, but don't give them another chance in four years time.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

Read a comment made by Andy Murray on losing in first round back in 2008 Olympics - only after he lost did he appreciate that playing in the Olympics he was representing his country and by winning he would be winning for his country, and not for himself.

 

[Robertoe]

Health risks, prize money issues, sponsor issues due to strict IOC rules, logistical issues.....there's all kinds of reasons why this one doesn't work for them. It's a real shame for the first event which since Golf joined, but my sense is Tennis may have had similar issues if this was the first time it was joining the Olympics also. Hopefully it will not ruin the future of Golf in the Olympics, but I would prefer it to be an under-23 tournament or something along those lines.

 

[Canary_Yellow]

Read a comment made by Andy Murray on losing in first round back in 2008 Olympics - only after he lost did he appreciate that playing in the Olympics he was representing his country and by winning he would be winning for his country, and not for himself.

Is that really true? Surely everyone wants to win for themselves first and foremost?

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

Is that really true? Surely everyone wants to win for themselves first and foremost?

“But when I lost I was gutted. I realised my job at the Olympics is to try to win a medal for the country.”

Read more at http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/...lympic-heartbreak-8313435#d3dLPovgRVeQLsGX.99

 

[Canary_Yellow]

“But when I lost I was gutted. I realised my job at the Olympics is to try to win a medal for the country.”

Read more at http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/...lympic-heartbreak-8313435#d3dLPovgRVeQLsGX.99[/QU

I wasn't doubting he said that, I just don't really believe him. Or rather, I don't believe that is what motivates our great olympians, it's a bonus.

 

[Imurg]

DJ now not going....

Read an interesting snippet earlier.
The course is built on and around swampland - ideal for mossies!
And, don't forget, the players are going to be outside for 5-7 hours (if you include warm-up/down).....plenty of time to get a bite or two...

 

[Hacker Khan]

I read that they actually have more chance of contracting dengue fever than Zika.

I think the chances of golf being in after Tokyo are slim now. And as someone who never really saw the point of it being there then I won't lose any sleep over it. Yes you could say it is a shame for this who were wanting to use it to grow the game in other countries. But then again I am still to be convinced of how much a casual viewer in these countries where golf does not have a foothold, tuning in to a 72 hole stroke play event with no cut over 4 days where they are taking 5 minutes to line up a put, will think 'that looks fun, I must give it a try'.

If you desperately want to grow the game in those countries then give their TV stations free broadcast rights to The Ryder Cup or Presidents Cup or something like that. An event where golf seems vaguely exciting.

 

[Hosel Fade]

DJ now not going....

Read an interesting snippet earlier.
The course is built on and around swampland - ideal for mossies!
And, don't forget, the players are going to be outside for 5-7 hours (if you include warm-up/down).....plenty of time to get a bite or two...

Exactly this, what people seem to forget is where a golf course is, how long that takes and how much higher that risk is as opposed to the stadium or even all the stuff that takes place indoors

 

[Tongo]

I read that they actually have more chance of contracting dengue fever than Zika.

I think the chances of golf being in after Tokyo are slim now. And as someone who never really saw the point of it being there then I won't lose any sleep over it. Yes you could say it is a shame for this who were wanting to use it to grow the game in other countries. But then again I am still to be convinced of how much a casual viewer in these countries where golf does not have a foothold, tuning in to a 72 hole stroke play event with no cut over 4 days where they are taking 5 minutes to line up a put, will think 'that looks fun, I must give it a try'.

If you desperately want to grow the game in those countries then give their TV stations free broadcast rights to The Ryder Cup or Presidents Cup or something like that. An event where golf seems vaguely exciting.

Indeed. The cry is the same as every other sport: we want to grow our sport. Golf now is a worldwide sport. Look at the mix of nationalities on the European tour.

The upshot is that players dont want to risk any interruption to their season (remember the Fed Ex Cup is not long after the Olympics) for what would be little more than the equivalent of a glorified tour event. If the Olympics are the pinnacle of your sport then athletes will take the risk. When it isnt the pinnacle, why take the risk?

 

[Hacker Khan]

Indeed. The cry is the same as every other sport: we want to grow our sport. Golf now is a worldwide sport. Look at the mix of nationalities on the European tour.

The upshot is that players dont want to risk any interruption to their season (remember the Fed Ex Cup is not long after the Olympics) for what would be little more than the equivalent of a glorified tour event. If the Olympics are the pinnacle of your sport then athletes will take the risk. When it isnt the pinnacle, why take the risk?

Actually the way its going it will be more like a low grade web.com event.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Is it definitely in for 2020? Golf in Japan is massive and having it in the games for that Olympics will be massive for the whole of Asia and will be very popular. It was clear once a couple of the top starts pulled out of these games others would follow. Will be interesting to see how many olympians at the games do actually contract the virus. I'm guessing not many

 

[Hacker Khan]

Is it definitely in for 2020? Golf in Japan is massive and having it in the games for that Olympics will be massive for the whole of Asia and will be very popular. It was clear once a couple of the top starts pulled out of these games others would follow. Will be interesting to see how many olympians at the games do actually contract the virus. I'm guessing not many

Pretty sure it is definitely in the 2020 games, but the IOC are voting next year whether to extend it after that. So they could vote to not bother, which I expect they will do, and the success or not of it in Tokyo will be irrelevant. I'd personally like to see a sport get golf's place where an Olympic gold is the pinnacle of the sport, not the 4th or even 5th most important thing after the majors and The Ryder Cup.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Pretty sure it is definitely in the 2020 games, but the IOC are voting next year whether to extend it after that. So they could vote to not bother, which I expect they will do, and the success or not of it in Tokyo will be irrelevant. I'd personally like to see a sport get golf's place where an Olympic gold is the pinnacle of the sport, not the 4th or even 5th most important thing after the majors and The Ryder Cup.

I agree entirely with your sentiment and so it really needs to be revised and open to amateur golfers. Plenty of good players out there that aren't pros and maybe the Olympics will be an event they'd be proud and keen to play in. The game is already massive out in the Far East but if they can develop some sort of legacy to get younger players golfing (very much a rich man's game in many countries) and get golf growing on the sub-continent it'll be worth it. Can you imagine if Korean men start coming through in the way the ladies are dominating their game. That'll give Rory and the others something to think about

 

[Hacker Khan]

Speith out now. Utter farce.

 

[Snelly]

I think it might be because at the Olympics, a stricter drug testing regime is in place and a few pumped up golfers might be somewhat reluctant to be exposed to this.

Golf is in the Olympics for one sole reason - money for the IOC.

Squash should be in! Golf - no way.