Straight from Copenhagen, Denmark the news of golf becoming an Olympic sport is official.
Golf was in the Olympics for a short period of time in 1904 but was soon left out. Now the worlds greatest players will have the chance to meet in Rio de Janeiro and compete for something more precious than the FEDEX Cup -- an Olympic gold medal.
More important than a gold medal is that golf will have the chance to catch on in other countries.
An excited Tiger Woods said, ''It's a perfect fit for the Olympics, and I think we are all looking forward to golf getting into the Olympics.''
Jack Nicklas himself said, "Olympic gold would not trump the Green Jacket given the winner of the Masters or the Claret Jug awarded in the British Open, but would be seen as something hugely important in countries where the game now doesn't mean nearly as much."
Michelle Wie tolf the International Olympic Committee that if they put golf into the Olympics it would give young girls something new to aspire to.
''I can dream about doing something that neither Tiger nor Ernie (Els) have ever done, and that is to make the final putt to win an Olympic gold medal,'' Wie said. ''If this dream comes true, somewhere in the world there will be another 4-year-old who sees me on that podium and perhaps starts her own Olympic dream.''
Golf won the vote 63-27 with two abstentions and rugby won by an amazing 81-8 with one one abstention. These sports are the first to be added to the
Olympic games since taekwindo and triathlon back in 2000 for the Sydney Olympics.
Rugby's landslide vote came from their proposal that included that they would be appealing to a much wider audience. Former New Zealand rugby great Jonah Lomu told The Associated Press. ''We were ecstatic and wanted to jump on the table, but we sort of restrained ourselves,'' and 'It was just fantastic for the game.''
When the Olympics roll around Tiger Woods will be 40-years-old and he will play against the best under a traditional format of 72 holes of stroke play for fields of 60 men and 60 women. Tiger said he grew up determined to chase and break the Jack Nicklaus's record of 18 major championship wins. He never even had any thoughts of winning the Olympics because golf was not even an Olympic sport (at the time).
Sean O'Hair said, ''I think it's awesome,'' ''You're going to be able to play for your country at the Olympic level. I think it's huge for the game. I think it's great for the Olympics. You know, I don't see any negatives to it. I think it's fantastic.''
The new Olympic sports had to make some concessions to gain the winning vote, the Rugby Sevens World Cup will be canceled and golf promised the IOC it would not stage any other major championships during the Olympics.
Delegates were more wary about introducing golf into the Olympics because of golf's rich reputation and questioned how it could be successful in most countries because of the high cost that is associated with playing the sport. Some of the IOC Members even pointed out that some of the top clubs don't even allow women members.
''Time will show your decision (on the sports) was very wise,'' IOC President Jacques Rogge told delegates.
''There are some serious problems with some clubs where major events are held, in terms of discrimination,'' American member Anita DeFrantz said, urging the IOC to ''avoid going down a road that may be harmful to our image.''
With golf finally making it back into the Olympics it may lead to bigger TV contracts for tournaments, higher purses for players, and more golf course developments. It would also make golf more available to the masses.
''Anything that grows the game, gets more people playing the game and more people watching the game, impacts all of those things,'' PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem said.
Posts
