Readers Respond: Golf In the Olympics

• Are you excited by the idea, or is it just a big yawn?
• Will an Olympic golf tournament rival the majors, outrank the WGC tournaments, or be just another tournament to you?
• Do you like the proposed tourney format, or hate it?
• Does golf need the Olympics?

yeah i said that

Golf is a terrible game, too hard. We should randomly select 3 people from each country and let them make complete fools of themselves. Now that's entertainment.

—Guest dojak

Team play (pro-am)

I would love to see a pro player (selected by a team captain from the competing country) and an amateur (who has to qualify for a spot). Plus it should be up to each country how many teams they want to send to the OG. Would also like to see a A format a la the World Cup - alternating stroke play rounds of bestball (fourball) and alternate shot (foursomes)

—Guest Guest

Amateurs only

Great decision to add golf in the Olympic Games. BUT...why go over world rankings etc. Why not do an international qualification process in order to give the chance to talented golf players also from small countrie to participate. e.g. my country - Greece - has few golf players but they maybe could qualify to some stage of the process. maybe not till the 60 finalists but at least let them try. If we do all the fuss in order to let Tiger Woods and his friends add another piece of silverware to their wall, errr sorry that's not what the Olympic Idea represents....but on the other hand TV viewers need to see people they know from sex-scandals, so advertising pays off... anyway good that softball is out :)

—Guest Fodex2000

Golf in Olympics

Not so important with the different challenges on PRO Tour. Would be great if all players in all countries were true amatures and not paid professionals.

—Guest Jerry

Golf in the Olympics

I am not sure that I am in favor of Golf in the Olympics. It will just be an every fours years version of a world championship and is that something we need or want?

—Guest Tim K.

building four golf courses

Brasilians need make a four golf courses to play each day at diferent course, it will be amazing... It will be a must of the Games and will really show who will be the best player to win the Olympics 2016 Rio.

—Guest wander Roberto Rodrigues

One 72 hole tourney? Ummm - Not!

I don't like the proposed format - at all. First they are proposing 60 players based on world ranking? Sheesh, that's just another tournament. Might as well go get a big-money sponsor. How does this format let young golfers get in for their country for a chance at the gold? It does not. How about up to 5 players from each country? Second, the format. I would rather see a longer, more rigorous process, for sure. How about small stroke-play seeding tournaments Maybe 36 or 56 holes, to determine a final 16 or 32, then a match-play elimination series? Much better, I think.

—Guest Rob Reeve

Golf in the Olympics

Golf doesn't need another venue, with all kinds of hotshots vying for their Country to be the best. Don't we have enough golf with all the tournaments that are going on? Do we need to promote another challenge so all the best can perform? I think NOT!

—Guest Edward Kodatt

Golf in the Olympics ...

I am a completely crazed fan of golf and its players, history, etc. It is the best gaming tradition in all of the world ... Professional Golf does not belong in the Olympic Games. The Olympics were intended for amateur competition. It is an absolute joke that the USA can send NBA players to the Games. Everything is about money. No one believes in tradition, integrity, and respect today.

—williamnbenoit

Yes

Why not, there many other sports that belong to the Olympic discipline that are many times less interesting than golf.

—Guest Walter Van Beeck

Amateurs only

Hold it a minute the Olympics are for amauters performing at the top of their profession so YES please include golf in the Olympics. However to have Tiger, Phil, Yang et al playing is not on. Just because we have the Dream Team and now several other sports hijacking the Olympics does not mean golf has to. Why did we suddenly have Tiger appearing - why not the best amatuers (lets say 4) from each country with playoff events on each continent to see who makes up the field. The original Golf in the Olympics was amateur only, why change this?

—Guest Bill

We already have it

We have the World Cup, we had the Dunhill Cup, both have problems because of uneven fields. This will be no different. Rugby 7's is going to Be an Olympic sport, so maybe we should have applied to have mashie golf, mini golf or skins as an olympic sport?

—Guest Alan Thompson

Not A Major!

The Olympics represent the pinnacle of achievement for many sports like track and field, swimming and gymnastics. That's because these sports have been tied to the Olympics for a long time. Other sports like baseball and golf already have their own major titles and it just doesn't make sense to put them in the Olympics. For golf the issue of the strength of field is one thing, one about the venue. What type of course, how will it be set up? Is it going to be a birdie fest or set up to find a real champion? There are just too many important variables and too little history to have the Olympic golf event really mean anything.

—teesand

Golf, Olympics, YES

Golf should have been in the Olympics a long time ago. But, better late than never. The format looks good, and whoever wims, deserves the Title "OLYMPIAN" After all, isn't that what the Olympics is all about. The Best of the Best?

—wtexan

Strength of field?

I read the proposed format and selection of the 60 players, but although there is obviously an effort made to make it as inclusive for as many countries as possible, does this not just create a stage for lower ranked players from around the globe to get spanked on a golf course in front of the world? The World Golf Rankings seems to be a good indication of how professional golfers rank in the world. In fact I think that is the list’s only purpose in life. The top 15 WGR players are there because they play consistently better than everyone else. Then again, it would give an opportunity for people, that would otherwise have no chance, to get their picture taken with Tiger and his Olympic medal.

—Guest Observer

Pro golf, no; golf in general, yes

For professional golf, the Olympics won't matter much. In fact, they'll probably just get in the way. But for golf in general - developing golf in countries where it is not currently popular, bringing more people into the game - the Olympics will be a major boon.

—Guest golf olympics