This is the first time golf has been an Olympic sport since 1904, and many famous golf people said wonderful things about its return.
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In Lawrie’s eyes, where a player is from and the importance of the Olympics in that country is a key factor in determining whether the game’s best will feature in future. “. There’s no money there (in the Ryder Cup, Presidents Cup)”.
A burrowing owl stands on the grass above it’s nest, made in a bunker on the Rio Olympic golf course.
LERNER: Unfortunately, the top storyline for the past few months has been who’s NOT going to Rio. While some are meant to notify golfers and the gallery that Brazilian law protects wild plants and animals, some are there to warn them of unsafe animals such as alligators.
Wu Ashun, the world No.142, will be hoping to add Olympic gold to his two European Tour titles. I think it can. Sergio Garcia doesn’t yet own a major, but winning a gold would be a memorable achievement.
Jack Nicklaus’ PGA Championship “Player” Trophy – Estimate: $50,000+. Player, for one, is estimated to have clocked up more than 15 million air miles in his lifetime, many of which were for exhibition matches, golf development and philanthropic purposes.
With a population of 200 million, Brazil has exactly one player, Lucas Lee, now on the PGA Tour.
Palmer predicts that the Olympic platform will help to globalise interest in golf in a way that has previously been unimaginable.
LERNER: That’s the idea.
Take Lebanon. In an interview, Mazen Ramadan, head of Lebanon’s delegation for Rio 2016, told me that the Lebanese government does not invest in elite sports. And that IS happening with golf, in China and in Brazil, for example. I have to thank my wife, as well, to put up with going away so much.
The essence of genuine Olympic spectacle rides the line between dominance and unparalleled drama. So if Anirban Lahiri of India or Shanshan Feng were to medal, it could potentially spark growth in two enormous markets.
One of the recurring criticisms associated with golf’s return to the Olympics has been the format, 72 holes of individual stroke play for both the men’s and women’s competition.
Q: What impact will guys skipping out have on The Olympics?
“We have an extremely strong field”. No [Jason] Day, no [Jordan] Spieth, no DJ [Dustin Johnson], no Rory [McIlroy].
Race officials say the first heats of the day Sunday are now scheduled to begin at 10:30 a.m. local time.
Q: How long will it take golfers to embrace The Olympics? You get the feeling that the Olympics was the big event for Harrington this year and to win a medal for his country would mean a huge amount to him.
Bubba Watson says he would lay up on 72nd hole to secure podium spot.
“I’m trying to go watch Denmark play handball”, he said. They’ll be curious and, I believe, eager to go to Tokyo in four years.
LERNER: The LPGA players have been enthusiastic from the outset.
“We want it to be an exciting course”, Hanse said. On the men’s side, Henrik Stenson’s fired up, and so too is Justin Rose.
Serbia has advised its athletes competing at the Rio Olympics to withdraw from any medal award ceremonies if they have to share the podium with athletes from breakaway Kosovo.
Q: How are you approaching the broadcast? Now it’s time to see if they’ve built a legacy.
Golf remains a niche sport here, played largely by the rich. A lot of times it’s more interesting to talk about what’s negative.
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Q: How are you approaching the two weeks in Rio? “I wanted to show that you can”. You against the world. We can’t just lock the door and stay inside. “I had to make sure I was traveling and playing and practicing”. It’s also vibrant. Plus, it’s The Olympics. “Maybe I can come up with one”.
