Golf's Olympic time has come
As I watch ``athletes'' competing in events such as shotgun shooting, synchronized diving and fencing this week in the Summer Olympics in Beijing, China, isn't it about time golf becomes an Olympic sport. Golf is not part of this year's games, but many in the industry are taking steps to get it included in eight years.
The International Golf Federation, recognized as the representative body for golf by the International Olympic Committee, has created an Olympic Golf Committee to drive its effort for the sport's inclusion in the 2016 Games. The R&A, PGA European Tour, USGA, PGA of America, PGA Tour, LPGA and Augusta National Golf Club are represented on the committee, which will be headed by appointed executive director Ty Votaw, an executive with the PGA Tour and former LPGA commissioner. Votaw will lead the Olympic effort until October 2009, when the International Olympic Committee votes on which, if any, sports to add.
Golf is one of seven sports under consideration, along with baseball, karate, roller sports, rugby sevens, softball and squash. No more than two sports will be added. Golf is bidding to become an Olympic sport for the first time since 1904, when 74 players from the U.S. and three from Canada contended for individual and team titles. Golf is truly an international game today, as 20 countries are represented among the top 100 male players in the Official World Golf Ranking, and 16 are represented among the top 100 in the Rolex Women's World Golf Rankings.
I'd definitely watch Tiger Woods try to win a gold medal before I watch two guys try to make a dive at the same time. That I promise you.
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