GOLF IN THE OLYMPICS.. SERIOUSLY TALKING

In NCAA tournaments, there are no caddies for the
students (true amateurs)

I just finished listening to a audio-video of a lady interviewing Stacy Lewis about golf in the Olympics under the premise that "men professional golfers do not appreciate golf in the Olympics as much as the ladies".

I believe that to be not to be 100% accurate, at least as far as the United States golfers are concerned. Jordan Spieth has been featured in an Olympic ad; Phil Mickelson has been very vocal about wanting to participate, and Tiger Woods, perhaps one of the main reasons golf was accepted in the Olympics in 2009 for the 2016 games, has been nothing but supportive of the return.

Sorry, I can't see his as an "Olympic" sport

On the other hand, it is true, golf in the Olympics IS NOT as exciting as a major. Period. The reason is simple: it skipped 112 years between, and no tradition, no excitement to draw from its history is there. It feels, and it is in many ways, just another tournament where no money is paid and you get a gold medal for winning. For some, that is not enough, and they'd rather participate in the World Cup or qualify for a major championship.

Daley Thompson,
Decathlon Gold 1980

Louis Oostheisen and Charl Schawrtzel, both major winners, are skipping the event. Both are from South Africa. Vijay Singh is also skipping if he qualifies for the country of Fiji (he is citing the well known virus spread by mosquitoes in Brazil), 2013 Masters winner Adam Scott says this contest should be for amateurs... and of all of the reasons heard, this is one I actually agree with, plus I have other points I'd like to mention.

There was a time when John Daly would have
qualified for this year's team. Just can't picture
him as an Olympic Athlete

As far as Scott's point, I agree. For years, the allure of the Olympics was that the games were for amateurs, but, the world was being trounced by socialist-communist countries who paid (in different ways, and ways in which the NCAA, or in this case the USGA, would not allow) their athletes to represent them. So, we (USA) decided to lobby for  rules changes and we ended up sending the "Dream Team" in basketball. Come on! It's like the Denver Broncos playing a college team! Anyway, it's a good thing that we won, otherwise, what an embarrassment it would have been! Personally, I enjoyed 1980 USA's hockey win much more than the dream team.  We did it with college players! Can you see Scott's point?

Tiger was very long because he was not only fast,
but very strong

In addition, all the games were about physical strength or speed. Score was given to Decathlon or Pentathlon, but it was based on time, or meters jumped or distance thrown. Gymnastics and diving are two that come in mind where there is a value for strength and a value for quality and style, but without strength, there won't be any style or quality to judge.

Basketball and soccer are Olympic games, and there is a time limit in which you have to come up with the best score. Speed and strength are a factor, as there is in baseball, though perhaps not as noticeable.

I rather play here... than

Now we have golf.  I could see the point of golf in the Olympics with some changes, the first of which should be NO CADDIES (I can't think of any other Olympic sport that has an assistant to the athlete), and with some sort of time or speed mixture, sort of like the Biathlon, where accuracy and time (speed) are combined for the score, and same equipment (at least same ball), limit the number of clubs to 7, and of course, amateurs only. Start by imagining that the NCAA allowed caddies!

Call me crazy, but I can see long driving with certain rules (everyone using same equipment just like in discus or shot-puck, deducting the distance from the center line, etc) more of an Olympic competition than golf itself.

here!!!

That said, it is what it is, and if my country said I was their choice to represent them, what an honor it would be, and I really do not see the point that Oozthezien and Schwarzel want to make, and even with my doubts on whether or not golf or professionals belong in the Olympics, or whether there should be some changes to the format, I'd take golf over synchronized swimming or badminton any day! Go Spieth!