Tour Honchos Meet with IOC
Filed in archive Golf News by Chris Henry on May 27, 2008
George Lyon, Gold Medallist for Canada at 1904 Olympics. Courtesy: Cyber-golf.com
PGA Commissioner Tim Finchem along with the heads of the European PGA Tour, R and A and LPGA Tour
met with Olympic officials in Lausanne, Switzerland last week.On their agenda was a discussion about making golf an Olympic sport - again. It was once on the Games menu, way back at the turn of the 20th century. The 1904 Summer Games in St. Louis, actually. The gold medal in individual golf was won by George Lyon from Canada.
That was the last time golf was seen at the Games.
But the sport could be back as early as 2016 - unless, of course, you believe in the Mayan calendar which does not record time beyond Christmas, 2012. However, I digress...
I have argued in this space that golf would be a fine addition to the Olympic Games yet there are still those who think it would be waste of time.
The latest is Tim McDonald over at Worldgolf.com. He maintains that professional golfers are spoiled multi-millionaires and "I wouldn't be that thrilled at seeing Tiger Woods or any multi-millionaire golfer holding up the gold medal".
Well, why not? Just because they make a lot of money they shouldn't play for their country? Why not ban the really rich players from earning points for the Ryder Cup teams, then?
It's silly thinking. But McDonald's argument is well-intentioned. He reminds us of how the NBA players kicked butt for several Olympics before flaming out. That's a valid point yet only proves that individual stars don't make a team. His underlying assumption is that the United States would win gold right out of the gate in Olympic golf.
Again, look to the Ryder Cup for evidence to the contrary. Frankly, I think Team USA would be in for the fight of their lives at an Olympic golf tournament.
Tim McDonald needs to study the field of international players on the scene today. And while he's at it, he should also familiarize himself with the past 11 years of Ryder Cup history.
There are no gimmes on the world stage anymore.
I have argued in this space that golf would be a fine addition to the Olympic Games yet there are still those who think it would be waste of time.
The latest is Tim McDonald over at Worldgolf.com. He maintains that professional golfers are spoiled multi-millionaires and "I wouldn't be that thrilled at seeing Tiger Woods or any multi-millionaire golfer holding up the gold medal".
Well, why not? Just because they make a lot of money they shouldn't play for their country? Why not ban the really rich players from earning points for the Ryder Cup teams, then?
It's silly thinking. But McDonald's argument is well-intentioned. He reminds us of how the NBA players kicked butt for several Olympics before flaming out. That's a valid point yet only proves that individual stars don't make a team. His underlying assumption is that the United States would win gold right out of the gate in Olympic golf.
Again, look to the Ryder Cup for evidence to the contrary. Frankly, I think Team USA would be in for the fight of their lives at an Olympic golf tournament.
Tim McDonald needs to study the field of international players on the scene today. And while he's at it, he should also familiarize himself with the past 11 years of Ryder Cup history.
There are no gimmes on the world stage anymore.
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golf olympic games golf at the olympics tim finchem pga tour lpga tour european pga tour r & a 2016
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