11/05/24
October 09, 2009
Golf Added as Olympic Sport: Tiger Woods now has a chance to do something that Walter Hagen, Ben Hogan, Bobby Jones, Byron Nelson, Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Gary Player and Sam Snead never did -- win an Olympic gold medal. The International Olympic Committee has voted to add golf to the 2016 Olympics, the first time it has been played at the event since 1904 -- thus ending George Seymour Lyon's reign as the longest Olympic champion.
I've always felt that the Majors in both tennis and golf were already so big that having those sports in the Olympics was a waste of a spot that could go to another sport.
posted by sbacharach at 01:12 PM on October 09, 2009
I'm moving to the smallest Olympic country I can find and turning pro again.
posted by JJ at 01:23 PM on October 09, 2009
Oh my god - do it. Burkina Faso represent!
posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 01:33 PM on October 09, 2009
Only 60 players allowed? Wonder how they are going to do the qualifiers and determine number of players allowed per country?
posted by graymatters at 01:40 PM on October 09, 2009
The 1st tee is up on Corcovado. The 18th is on Sugarloaf. You play your way down to the beach and then cash in at the hospitality center.
posted by beaverboard at 02:29 PM on October 09, 2009
ugh, golf is just not needed in the Olympics. 1) it's already an international sport in that the best from each country already compete in the Majors as well as the Ryder Cup. 2) it doesn't really drive excitement on TV the way other sports do. 3) The best players are all professionals that we all know pretty well. Extremely slim chance some nobody from Burkina Faso is going to get very far in the competion.
The most interesting competition may come in the qualifying rounds. With only 60 spots, it should be interesting to see who represents countries like the US and others with strong professional representation.
7 years from now, will Tiger still be as dominate?
posted by dviking at 03:13 PM on October 09, 2009
2) it doesn't really drive excitement on TV the way other sports do
It's not as exciting as other Olympic sports like dressage and archery. I can never get enough of the fascinating shooting events.
posted by bperk at 03:20 PM on October 09, 2009
It can't be nearly as interesting as watching the entire marathon.
posted by Ying Yang Mafia at 03:43 PM on October 09, 2009
It's not as exciting as other Olympic sports like dressage and archery. I can never get enough of the fascinating shooting events.
To each their own. Dressage and archery are two events that I make a point of watching.
posted by goddam at 03:58 PM on October 09, 2009
Isn't the whole point of the Olympics supposed to be AMATEUR COMPETITION?
Oh, wait, that was until McDonalds etc... Got their fucking filth encrusted paws on it.
posted by Drood at 04:22 PM on October 09, 2009
That's not filth -- it's McNuggets.
posted by rcade at 04:37 PM on October 09, 2009
Golf in the Olympics in Rio? Gee, I can't wait until some idiot starts yelling "Get in the hole" in Portugese.
posted by Howard_T at 05:53 PM on October 09, 2009
"Entrar no buraco, balo!"
I don't think excitement levels should dictate what gets in or not (I'm sure I find golf as exciting as anyone else here finds their favourite sport), but it just shouldn't be in the Olympics. Nor should tennis, and for precisely the reason outlined by sbcharach above. If the Olympic gold doesn't represent the pinnacle of your sport, then your sport shouldn't be in the games. The inclusion of golf is a seemingly unashamed money-chasing exercise, which is disappointing. If any international sporting body should be above something like that, the IOC should be.
posted by JJ at 08:24 PM on October 09, 2009
They added rugby too. Which seems more American TV friendly, what with the big guys with no armor/padding and the constant violence.
posted by billsaysthis at 09:25 PM on October 09, 2009
But I think it's supposed to be the 7-on-7 version for more offense, not the 15-on-15 in which defense is key and brings about the violence many in America will eat up.
posted by jjzucal at 09:28 PM on October 09, 2009
It's not as exciting as other Olympic sports like dressage and archery. I can never get enough of the fascinating shooting events
While I do agree that dressage and archery don't exactly come across on TV as exciting, where else do you get a chance to watch them other than the Olympics? Golf is on more weekends than it's not, and there's the flipping Golf Channel if you miss it on Sunday.
As to the entire marathon... half the amount of time as one round of golf. And, again, how often do you see it on TV?
posted by dviking at 10:45 PM on October 09, 2009
I thought the Olympics are about sports, not games. What's next bowling and horseshoes?
posted by otbagain at 01:57 AM on October 10, 2009
Which part of the Olympic Games did you think wasn't about games?
posted by JJ at 05:51 AM on October 10, 2009
I thought the Olympics are about sports, not games.
We don't allow sport/not-a-sport discussions here because they make Touchdown Jesus cry.
posted by rcade at 08:13 AM on October 10, 2009
I wonder if they will get to use their caddies? If so, does the caddy medal also?