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The Olympics Games - The Final Word

By: Golfshake Editor | Mon 29 Aug 2016


Post by Sports Writer Derek Clements


YOU will all know by now that Rory McIlroy has admitted that he got it badly wrong by deciding to give the Olympic Games golf tournament a miss, claiming he was concerned about catching the zika virus. The Northern Irishman had made it clear that he would not be watching the tournament and would instead tune in to "diving, swimming, athletics, the sports that matter".

However, having caught the final round and watched Justin Rose and Henrik Stenson going at it hammer and tongs for four days, McIlroy now says that he wishes he had joined them.

But let's give the final word to Gary Player, who "captained" the South African team in Rio and was extremely unhappy when Charl Schwartzel and Louis Oosthuizen pulled out. Player seems to have views on most things (he insists that he could sort out Jordan Speith's swing problems in half an hour), so what does he make of golf returning to the Olympic schedule after more than 100 years.

Don't forget that more than 20 top male golfers opted not to go to Rio.

According to Player, who won nine majors during an illustrious career, golf has done more than enough to secure its long-term future in the Games. And with the sport already guaranteed its place in Tokyo in 2020, it is difficult to argue with Player's view. Apart from the men's tournament, the standard of play in the women's event, which was won in thrilling fashion by seven-time major champion Inbee Park, was also quite spectacular.

“When I saw players withdraw with uncalled-for remarks, feeble excuses – when you think that these same players play in Asia and Africa with big appearance money, thousand times more serious (threats) with malaria than zika – I was very sad,” Player said.

“But I don’t want to talk about those guys. We will continue to be in the Olympic Games now in spite of them, but thank you to the players that supported it and had the common sense to realise that this is the greatest show on earth and it would help and benefit golf in tiny countries where golf really needs help.

“If you look at the stats and number of people who have watched, according to the ratings it’s been almost as high as The Open, which is marvellous. It’s been a roaring success.”

Against all the odds, spectators came out in their thousands to watch Rose and Stenson fight it out for gold, and this in a country where very few people play the game.

Of course, the final irony is that the players who did take part in Rio were far more likely to come across owls burrowing in bunkers, exotic birds flocking to the nearby lakes and family dogs than mosquitoes carrying the zika virus.

Golf will feature in Tokyo in 2020 - the Japanese love golf and will surely turn out in vast numbers in the hope of cheering Hideki Matsuyama to the gold medal. However, every sport’s place in the Olympic programme from 2024 onwards will be reviewed by the IOC in September next year.

So does Player believe golf has done enough to secure its place for the long term? “No doubt. Not even a question. Our ratings have been higher than most sports in the Olympic Games. They have no option but to continue using us.”


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Tags: Olympics justin rose



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