Professional Golf 2024

[Orikoru]

How is this any different from any other golf event? The best golfer doesn't always (ever?) win so lets just scrap golf as it is just a lottery? Loads of Major wins - just lucky?

No, you've missed the point. I was simply pointing out how it's unlike the vast majority of other Olympic events. Olympic events to me are about proving categorically who is fastest, strongest, can jump the highest, etc. In golf though the winner is only the best golfer that week so it doesn't really make sense to have it in the Olympics.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

Originally though, Golf was in the 2nd and 3rd Olympics back in 1900 & 1904.

It was amatuer entrants in those days and maybe when it was brought back it should of been as an Amatuer Comp.

Not many amateurs in any Olympic sport now. At the very least, most will get lottery funding. If we took out the professionals it could be over in 2 days

 

[IanM]

Just opened up on Disco+ will give it a watch

 

[wjemather]

Not many amateurs in any Olympic sport now. At the very least, most will get lottery funding. If we took out the professionals it could be over in 2 days

Elite amateur golfers are not really amateurs anyway.

 

[WirralC]

No, you've missed the point. I was simply pointing out how it's unlike the vast majority of other Olympic events. Olympic events to me are about proving categorically who is fastest, strongest, can jump the highest, etc. In golf though the winner is only the best golfer that week so it doesn't really make sense to have it in the Olympics.

That's a good point and one I hadn't really considered before. The gold medal winner is usually one of the best 2 or 3 in the world in most events. Even in other skill based events like shooting it's usually one of the favourites who win. Just goes to show what a stupid bloody game this is!

 

[IanM]

Interesting discussion about it on The Chipping Forecast podcast yesterday.

Yep. Golf isn't an Olympic Sport, using the definition "is the Gold Medal the pinnacle of the sport?"

But, there will be folk in countries that don't traditionally play golf, getting exposure to it. Eg in Venezuela, if Jhonny Vegas gets a medal, big coverage.

 

[Slab]

No, you've missed the point. I was simply pointing out how it's unlike the vast majority of other Olympic events. Olympic events to me are about proving categorically who is fastest, strongest, can jump the highest, etc. In golf though the winner is only the best golfer that week so it doesn't really make sense to have it in the Olympics.

But unless every Gold is also a world record isn't every sport just the person/team that performed best that week? i.e The gold medal high jump winner may not be the world record holder, may not jump within 10cm of the record but was just the best that week

 

[WirralC]

But unless every Gold is also a world record isn't every sport just the person/team that performed best that week? i.e The gold medal high jump winner may not be the world record holder, may not jump within 10cm of the record but was just the best that week

Yes but I think the point is the person who wins gold is usually the best every week in most sports, whether they achieved a record or not.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

But unless every Gold is also a world record isn't every sport just the person/team that performed best that week? i.e The gold medal high jump winner may not be the world record holder, may not jump within 10cm of the record but was just the best that week

Exactly. Doesn't even have to be close to an olympic record. Best person wins

 

[Orikoru]

But unless every Gold is also a world record isn't every sport just the person/team that performed best that week? i.e The gold medal high jump winner may not be the world record holder, may not jump within 10cm of the record but was just the best that week

Yes but in almost all of them you could probably choose the winner out of the top 3 or 4, or 5 competitors maybe? You very rarely get a massive surprise winner because those who are the best at it will obviously beat the rest every time. But in golf the winner could realistically be anyone out of a pool of like 50 people or more. It's a bit more up in the air.

 

[Slab]

Yes but I think the point is the person who wins gold is usually the best every week in most sports, whether they achieved a record or not.

That's why golf is the undisputed toughest game on the planet

 

[Slab]

Yes but in almost all of them you could probably choose the winner out of the top 3 or 4, or 5 competitors maybe? You very rarely get a massive surprise winner because those who are the best at it will obviously beat the rest every time. But in golf the winner could realistically be anyone out of a pool of like 50 people or more. It's a bit more up in the air.

See post 1291

 

[PaulMdj]

Not many amateurs in any Olympic sport now. At the very least, most will get lottery funding. If we took out the professionals it could be over in 2 days

Big difference between a multi-millionaire sports person and someone getting financial help to compete at the highest level, there are athletes competing who also have full time jobs.

 

[Swango1980]

Not many amateurs in any Olympic sport now. At the very least, most will get lottery funding. If we took out the professionals it could be over in 2 days

Indeed. I guess the world of sport have moved a long way.

If you go back 50/100 years, how many professionals across all sports were there? No idea of the answer, so only speculating. But I'd have thought professional sport was a lot more rare back in the day. Whereas today, we are swarming with professional athletes in many sports, even at the much lower levels.

 

[simsini]

They need the wind to get up for the next 3 days, otherwise the score could be very low.

 

[Slab]

Just in case its not obvious. I’m chuffed golf is in the Olympics, jeez I’d have them doing synchronised chipping off the 10mtr board at a target in the indoor pool wearing speedos if I thought they’d go for it

 

[Beezerk]

This should be a 2 day comp or some kind of Ryder Cup team format. Yet another 4 round strokeplay event is a little ott for the Olympics imo.
The tennis has nailed it, really short format with a great final set tie break type decider.

 

[wjemather]

Interesting discussion about it on The Chipping Forecast podcast yesterday.

Yep. Golf isn't an Olympic Sport, using the definition "is the Gold Medal the pinnacle of the sport?"

But, there will be folk in countries that don't traditionally play golf, getting exposure to it. Eg in Venezuela, if Jhonny Vegas gets a medal, big coverage.

There wouldn't be many sports at all if that was the definition/criteria.

 

[AussieKB]

Anybody watching the Olympic golf?

No not interested.

 

[IanM]

There wouldn't be many sports at all if that was the definition/criteria.

Blooming loads, all the traditional Olympic ones....