PaulMdj
Well-known member
But there’s no qualifying as such for Golf, there is in just about every other sport.
Anyway mate, it is what it is, no more comments on this one from me.
Professional Golf 2024 & 2025
- Thread starter Whydowedoit
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Anyway mate, it is what it is, no more comments on this one from me.
pendodave
Tour Rookie
And rightly so, imho, as the number of shades of grey would rapidly approach eskimo snow sub-categories.
am golf is just like pro golf really - the usga&ra open championships are as significant in both.
No-one would watch am golf at the Olympics. If I was going to make it a more compelling offering I would go team matchplay, including mixed.
Mel Smooth
Hacker
Golfnut1957
Newbie
Most of the top golfers in the world, on one of my favourite courses, hitting a little white ball with a stick. What's not to like.
Golfnut1957
Newbie
Is Matt Fitzpatrick the "worst" best player in the world. I think so.
Beezerk
Money List Winner
Where’s the leaderboard for the golf?
wjemather
Well-known member
slicer79
Challenge Tour Pro
My own opinion is that golf shouldn't be there. For any Olympic sport winning the gold should be the highest achievement possible in the given sport. In golf I'd think there could be up to a dozen other tournaments that the players would rank higher in terms of what they'd like to win.
Swango1980
Well-known member
I wonder if this is truly the case? For golf fans generally, Majors are definitely the pinnacle of golf.
But for a golfer, being able to say you were an Olympian. Winning a gold medal, or any medal, in a competition that only comes around every 4 years. Being one of the few to represent your country in that Olympics. That sounds mega exciting.
I'd have thought the golfers playing in the Olympics will rank it extremely highly. Maybe some would prefer a Major, others maybe not. Maybe multiple Major winners would happily sacrifice one for a gold medal, maybe not. However, I'm not sure there would be a dozen tournaments they'd rather win. The 4 Majors, for sure. PGA Championship, maybe? Are there many more individual events most golfers would rank higher than the chance of an Olympic Gold Medal? Only curious, as I no longer watch any golf except Majors and Ryder Cup, so am unaware of the other big events these days.
Swango1980
Well-known member
Just thought of what I'd think would be entertaining format for Olympics.
18 hole stroke play to get Top 32.
3 Match Play Rounds to get Top 4
1 4ball round for medals. 12 points every hole, winner gets 6, 2nd gets 4, 3rd gets 2, 4th gets zero. Players tie holes, share those points (e.g. tie 1st and 2nd, both get 5 points).
We play that last format occasionally (though more often as a 3 ball, 6 points available each hole) and it's a lot of fun. I reckon I'd love watching it.
18 hole stroke play to get Top 32.
3 Match Play Rounds to get Top 4
1 4ball round for medals. 12 points every hole, winner gets 6, 2nd gets 4, 3rd gets 2, 4th gets zero. Players tie holes, share those points (e.g. tie 1st and 2nd, both get 5 points).
We play that last format occasionally (though more often as a 3 ball, 6 points available each hole) and it's a lot of fun. I reckon I'd love watching it.
Slab
Occasional Tour Caddy
I wonder if some folk haven’t yet adjusted to the fact that the Olympic golf event isn’t like a Tour event & maybe because its only the 3rd time they still think of it in those terms when thinking about the entrants and qualification or ‘pinnacle of the sport’ etc
Its not about having xyz number of the best/top players. The players (any sport) aren’t there as independent contractors.
Countries/nations attending the games get to pick their best representatives, usually through national qualifying, and send them to compete on their country's behalf to try and win a medal
Its nation V nation, country V country. All the athletes/players/swimmers/skateboarders/golfers etc are simply representatives of their nation
It is the absolute pinnacle event that any golfer can possibly do while representing their country. There is nothing bigger
Its not about having xyz number of the best/top players. The players (any sport) aren’t there as independent contractors.
Countries/nations attending the games get to pick their best representatives, usually through national qualifying, and send them to compete on their country's behalf to try and win a medal
Its nation V nation, country V country. All the athletes/players/swimmers/skateboarders/golfers etc are simply representatives of their nation
It is the absolute pinnacle event that any golfer can possibly do while representing their country. There is nothing bigger
I'd like to see a pairs format and include the ladies scores as well
Arthur Wedge
Well-known member
The gold medal goes to the competitor , when someone plays in a major their nationality is there as well
Any “singles” competitor is still looking to win a medal for themselves
There is no prize for the medal table
Ask any top golfer given a choice - major or golf medal - the answer would be a major
Same with tennis and slams
Football and the World Cup etc etc
But as it’s in the first thing they should have done is make it team based , a pairs event then a second event for mixed as well
Swango1980
Well-known member
Not every golfer. You probably haven't asked Matthieu Pavon yet?
PaulMdj
Well-known member
Agree with the non-bold parts, for the bit in bold, there are no National qualifying events for Golf, that qualification is all through the OGR.
The Home Countries (England/Scotland Golf etc) for example, have no say in who’ll represent GB.
Those who qualify will absolutely be very proud to be at the Olympics, but I genuinely don’t believe any top Golfer is looking at their itinerary and aiming it at qualification for any Olympics, representing your Country will be a bonus byproduct.
Orikoru
Tour Winner
I agree that a team event would have made more sense, maybe even a pairs matchplay knockout or something like that. That would have made it a bit different to the normal golf events, plus made it more Olympicky with country v country. Currently something is wrong when USA get twice the competitors that everyone else gets, including the two best players in the world.
I am sure some golfers especially from smaller teams will have looked at the olympics and had an eye on getting in so they could represent their nation but like most top golf events would have had very limited expectations around winning
PaulMdj
Well-known member
What smaller teams?
Qualification is for 120 Golfers only, 60 male, 60 female and all based on the OGR.
It’s not as if any Country can simply decide to send their 2 best Golfers and really don’t want to get in to the whole LIV drama, but the rankings exclude those players as well.
Olympic Sports shouldn’t involve individual sports politics.
Slab
Occasional Tour Caddy
Just because a flag is shown on screen in certain TV tour broadcasts doesn't mean its country v country. Players are not officially representing their country in tour events
No one representing their country can win a golf Major and no unrepresented independent contract golfer can win a Gold medal
They two achievements are not a 'what would you rather have' comparison, however much flawed thinking is put on it