Olympic Golf?
Yesterday was the final presentation by the International Golf Federation to the International Olympic Committee to have golf included in the Olympics beginning in 2016. The IGF presenting group besides Ty Votaw (of the PGA Tour) and Peter Dawson (from the R&A) was comprised of Colin Montgomerie, Annika Sorenstam and Chako Higuchi plus PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem.
It’s obviously a “full court press” effort by the leaders of the game though not everyone is thrilled about adding another “must play” event to an already crowded professional schedule particularly in light of the problems maintaining current tournament sponsors not to mention finding new sponsors who will pay the money needed for even a regular event on any of the world tours.
However, the powers that be say it’s all about growing the game since once Olympic inclusion is assured presumably dozens of national governments will start funding golf programs with tax payer money creating millions of new golfers around the world. Maybe. I’m a skeptic to say the least.
One of the more interesting points though is the IGF has said none of the major golf championships will have a scheduling problem and of course Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Michael Wie etc. all will tee it up.
Again, maybe, at least considering the present schedule.
The timing of the eight professional majors (Masters, men’s and women’s U.S. and British Opens, the PGA, The Kraft Nabisco and MacDonald’s Championship) runs from early April to the middle of August. The Olympics is usually the end of July through mid-August and therefore has the potential of being coincident with the PGA Championship and the Women’s British Open.
Not that either of these two can’t be moved to accommodate the Olympic event but we’ll have to wait and see what’s decided.
Yes, I’m assuming it’s a given golf will become an Olympic sport. The final IOC decision is due in August.
