Who Would Play in the Olympics If The Cut-Off Date was Today?

[Tom_Doak]

Someone on the other thread asked about the make-up of the Olympic golf field.  It's an interesting list.

The qualification rules that have been proposed are as follows:

1.  The top 15 players in the World Rankings (men's and women's) automatically qualify, no matter what country they are from.

2.  The rest of the field (total 60 men and 60 women) are taken from their place in the world rankings, but only two players from each country are eligible unless they are exceptions due to the rule above.


The results of this list are much more interesting than you'd guess.  I didn't have time to go through the lists far enough, but here are the results I came up with based on this week's world rankings:

For the men:  the top 100 in the world rankings would yield 32 eligible players:

USA (6):  Dustin Johnson, Stricker, Webb Simpson, Watney, Kuchar, Mickelson
UK (4):  Donald, McIlroy, Westwood, McDowell
Germany (1):  Kaymer
Australia (2):  Day, Scott
South Africa (2):  Schwartzel, Oosthuizen (#36)
S. Korea (2):  Choi, Kim Tyung-Kae
Spain (2):  Garcia (#17), Jimenez (#40)
Sweden (2):  Karlsson (#29), Jacobson (#34)
Denmark (2):  Bjorn (#32), Hansen (#33)
Italy (2):  Molinari (#37), Manassero (#55)
Japan (2):  Ishikawa (#49), Tanighuci (#70)
Fiji (1):  Vijay Singh (#61)
Netherlands (1):  Luiten (#65)
Belgium (1):  Colaserts (#76)
Ireland (1):  Harrington (#81)
Colombia (1):  Villegas (#82)

Everybody else in the top 100 is a double-up.  The example shown on the PGA Tour's web site from 2009 suggests that players from Malaysia or similar countries ranked in the 300's on the world list will be the last ones to qualify.  However, the race to be in the top 15 at the close of the eligibility for U.S. and U.K. and Australian players will be intense!


For the women:

USA (5):  Kerr, Creamer, Lewis, Linicome, Pressel
Korea (5):  Choi, Ahn, Shin, Kim, Yang
Taipei (2):  Tseng, Kung (#82)
Japan (2):  Miyazato, Arimura
China (2):  Feng, Ye (#93)
Australia (2):  Webb, Hull (#47)
Sweden (2):  Hjorth, Nordqvist
UK (2):  Matthew, Reid (#43)
Germany (2):  Gal, Masson (#95)
Spain (2):  Munoz (#39), Recari (#70)
Norway (1):  Pettersen
Netherlands (1):  Boeljon (#62)
South Africa (1):  Pace (#75)
Italy (1):   Luna (#76)
France (1):  Icher (#83)

That's 31 players, they still need to find 29 more from outside the top 100.


Say what you will about the format, but the nature of the field is designed to promote the game internationally.

[Don_Mahaffey]

Tom,
What's the governing body for golf in the Olympics?

Most of the other sports have a federation that manages the sport internationally, but for the life of me I can't think of ruling body for international golf.

I would be disappointed if 10% of the field could be made up of players from one country. I can't think of another Olympic sport where that happens. For instance, in swimming there are events where the US could go 1-5 if the fastest 15 swimmers  in each event were automatically in.

[Tom_Doak]

Don:

One of the problems that golf always had in being eligible for the Olympics was that the IOC insists on deferring rules to ONE governing body, and of course golf has always had more than one.

The problem was addressed 3-4 years ago when the governing bodies got together to form the International Golf Federation [based in Switzerland].  Peter Dawson from the R & A is the current president of the group, which includes the R & A, USGA, PGA Tour, PGA European Tour, and LPGA, among others.

I don't know if the IGF has any agenda other than to serve as the authority for the Olympic competition, but they are the ones who petitioned the IOC to include golf, and got it through.  I know that they DID canvass the top players to try and come up with an eligibility system and a format that the players would support, which is how they arrived at a 72-hole, medal-play event ... it's what the players wanted.

[Don_Mahaffey]

Tom
Thanks. Format makes sense for golf, but seems a little odd considering how most individual events are managed at the games. I do hope they find a way to get as many different countries in as possible, and hopefully they have allotted two spots in each field for the host country.
I don't really want to see "Eddie the Eagle" shoot 110, but I do hope we have a very diversified field.   

[Tom_Doak]

Tom
Thanks. Format makes sense for golf, but seems a little odd considering how most individual events are managed at the games. I do hope they find a way to get as many different countries in as possible, and hopefully they have allotted two spots in each field for the host country.
I don't really want to see "Eddie the Eagle" shoot 110, but I do hope we have a very diversified field.   

I don't think the #400 player in the world is in danger of shooting 110.  But I guess that depends on who designs the course!

[Ross Harmon]

Tom, now that you've done this research... be sure to build a course that will best fit the American's game! USA USA USA!

[Simon Holt]

I would have loved to see an old school 36 holes strokeplay, top 32 qualify for matchplay or something along those lines.  Then you could have a true 'Gold Medal' match a la hockey, ice hockey, basketball, judo, shooting and just about any other Olympic sport that doesn't involve a race.

[Simon Holt]

Maybe even the format of the old Dunhill Cup at St. Andrews which was a matchplay of strokeplay to a degree.  Then it has more of a team eleent than individual.

[Tom_Doak]

Tom, now that you've done this research... be sure to build a course that will best fit the American's game! USA USA USA!

Ross:

Of course, that's silly.  None of us would want to build a course that "favored" any particular player -- the architecture of an Olympic course would necessarily be an exercise in neutrality.  And I have exactly a 1-in-8 chance of getting to build it, at this point.

[Jud_T]

Tom, I'd certainly take you or Jack at 7-1.  

[Kalen Braley]

I wonder if we're going to see a Shivas sighting where he tells us he's going to move to Iran so he can qualify for the Olympics....like he always said he was going to do.

Perhaps I could move to Papua new Guniea.....I lived there before....I could make the team and be an Olympian!! 

[Anthony Butler]

If Tiger Woods can fog a mirror, golfing-wise or otherwise, they'll find a way to put him in the field.

[Sean Leary]

Tom, I'd certainly take you or Jack at 7-1.  

Knowing nothing about Brazil, it seems to me like a big name would have the best chance and there is no bigger name then Jack. No way you get 7-1 on him...

[Ross Harmon]

Tom, now that you've done this research... be sure to build a course that will best fit the American's game! USA USA USA!

Ross:

Of course, that's silly.  None of us would want to build a course that "favored" any particular player -- the architecture of an Olympic course would necessarily be an exercise in neutrality.  And I have exactly a 1-in-8 chance of getting to build it, at this point.

Tom, I know... sorry, was just a joke. I'd be surprised if 1-2 of those 6 actually made the team in 2016 anyways. I'm rooting for you though... whatever that's worth.

[Tim Gavrich]

I think that's a great set of qualification rules.  Alexandre Rocha--currently OWGR #670, highest ranked Brazilian--needs to end up being eligible.  Just eyeballing the OWGR list, I think he would be.

Remember, everyone, that even the 1,000th ranked player in the world is going to still acquit himself or herself just fine around the golf course.

And I have no doubt whatsoever that Tiger will be playing in that tournament.

[Adam Clayman]

If any sport should only be played by amateurs in the Olympics, it's golf.

I'd even go further and think it would be great to have an age limit on the entrants. Say 18. or 13.

That would promote junior golf.


Building another slog championship venue for the pros, is is .... a pity.

[David Harshbarger]

Don:

One of the problems that golf always had in being eligible for the Olympics was that the IOC insists on deferring rules to ONE governing body, and of course golf has always had more than one.

The problem was addressed 3-4 years ago when the governing bodies got together to form the International Golf Federation [based in Switzerland].  Peter Dawson from the R & A is the current president of the group, which includes the R & A, USGA, PGA Tour, PGA European Tour, and LPGA, among others.

I don't know if the IGF has any agenda other than to serve as the authority for the Olympic competition, but they are the ones who petitioned the IOC to include golf, and got it through.  I know that they DID canvass the top players to try and come up with an eligibility system and a format that the players would support, which is how they arrived at a 72-hole, medal-play event ... it's what the players wanted.

It is good that they canvassed the players, but given the cache of the Olympics, they could put in most any format, and the players would go.  For drama, it would seem that match play would be the way to go.

How much will the format influence the design? Do you think we'll see something like ANGC's stretch of ball-busters starting the back, then stretch of birdie holes, so that the leaders get to hear the roars of the challengers when they need their nerves the most?  What other championship Medal play design elements would folks think are exceptional?

[Mike Hamilton]

If any sport should only be played by amateurs in the Olympics, it's golf. I'd even go further and think it would be great to have an age limit on the entrants. Say 18. or 13. That would promote junior gollf.

Adam, while I admire the inherent idealism in this suggestion....I really think it is a way to ensure that the Olympic Golf event is ignored.  I think the best way to promote junior golf is to get people not ordinarily excited about a sport to pay attention.  I'd like to believe the Olympics is responsible for plenty of youth gymnasts, swimmers, etc because for a couple of weeks every four years people tune in to stuff they would ordinarily never pay attention to.  The first Olympics I watched was at age 8, the Munich Olympics, and I remember chalking track lines in our cul-de-sac and running races with my second grade friends....and I have been an avid (although non-competitive) swimmer for life because of watching Mark Spitz.

I think the best way to ensure you get the most people in the most countries paying attention and thinking about taking up the sport is a format like Tom outlined.  If by some great stroke of luck a Brazilian (for example) is paired with Rory Mcilroy on the final day, you can bet the country will be tuned in and more Brazilians will think about taking up the sport.

[Tim Nugent]

I'm a bit confused. 60 players, no more than 2 per country?  Does that mean only 30 countries will be able to field teams? Under these rules, we'd never have seen the Jamacain Bobsled team (something that probably brought more publicity to the sport than anything else).  And with the inclusion of the top 15 automatically, that means some countries will have an even more skewed advantage.
 I would like to see a team from every country that wishes to filed one and it should be left up to the individual countries to choose them, just like they do for every other sport.  And a 6,800 yard course to allow  a greater cross-section of players maybe some of the guys from the Sr Tour or good amatuers or lessor tour players from smaller countries.
Let's face it. The Olympics is good for "under 5-minute" events so they fit neatly into TV programs.  We needn't worry about having to watch Bobby Bogie because i doubt we will even get to see much golf.  And if we do, it will be on the final day and only the top contenders.

[Matthew Hunt]

Tom, the 3 Northern Irish players are eligable for both the Uk and Ireland, which means you can add Clarke to your list as playing for Ireland. Golf is an all-island sport so i wouldn't be suprised if the other 2 wished to play for Ireland but i think if the situation arises they will work a situation that allows the 3 of them to play.

[Tom_Doak]

I'm a bit confused. 60 players, no more than 2 per country?  Does that mean only 30 countries will be able to field teams? Under these rules, we'd never have seen the Jamacain Bobsled team (something that probably brought more publicity to the sport than anything else).  And with the inclusion of the top 15 automatically, that means some countries will have an even more skewed advantage.
 I would like to see a team from every country that wishes to filed one and it should be left up to the individual countries to choose them, just like they do for every other sport.  And a 6,800 yard course to allow  a greater cross-section of players maybe some of the guys from the Sr Tour or good amatuers or lessor tour players from smaller countries.
Let's face it. The Olympics is good for "under 5-minute" events so they fit neatly into TV programs.  We needn't worry about having to watch Bobby Bogie because i doubt we will even get to see much golf.  And if we do, it will be on the final day and only the top contenders.

Tim:

Jamaica will probably not field a golf team.  Of course, I don't think they could field their original bobsled team nowadays, either.  Nearly all the sports' ruling bodies have instituted some sort of minimum performance criteria to prevent such publicity stunts in the future.

As for the TV deal, I thought match play would work fine for golf because they would just intersperse highlights into other TV coverage, but a friend pointed out that they are probably thinking they can make $$ from a separate Olympic Golf TV deal, so it's back to TV wanting the entire field playing on the last day.


Matthew:

That's great for the Northern Ireland players, but doesn't it have the potential to create a lot of controversy if [say] McDowell and Clarke are no longer in the top 15, but both opt for Ireland and it keeps Harrington off the team?

[Matthew Hunt]

Yes, that can be a sporting problem. Northern Ireland is the unique situation where under international law anyone born here automatically a citizen of both the UK and Ireland and have to be treated the same as natural born from each countries. This is now followed internationally including by sporting bodies. The only major sport that is not all-island is soccer so this is now a problem: http://sluggerotoole.com/2011/10/10/more-confusion-from-ifa-quarters-over-football-eligibility-on-the-day-nigel-walks/

Interestingly although the only way this has really affected me is when I was volunteering in Africa last year, when I produced an Irish passport I was waved throught airports/border crossing/army checkpoints without it really being looked at and a ‘we love the Irish’ style comment. Yet when my friend produced a British Passport, there was always questions asked and visa's/fines they wanted paid. Thought from next year going to St Andrews or Edinburgh Universities will be free for the Irish but £36,000 for non-Scottish British, so there will be a few new Irish passports in Northern Ireland!

I think most people here will not have a problem whoever they play for but you know some of the English/ Dublin paper will try to make a controversy out of whatever they do to sell a few more papers. If it’s a slow time for news i whole 'who will Rory play for?' saga could emerge!

[Niall C]

Tom, the 3 Northern Irish players are eligable for both the Uk and Ireland, which means you can add Clarke to your list as playing for Ireland. Golf is an all-island sport so i wouldn't be suprised if the other 2 wished to play for Ireland but i think if the situation arises they will work a situation that allows the 3 of them to play.

Matthew

Absolute nonsense. If Dustin Johnson is struggling to make the "american team" do you think he would turn Canadian ? Do you think for a second the Canadians would allow it ? When participating at the Olympics, you play for your country irrespective of whether the governing body of that particular sport covers a larger geographical area.

Niall

[Dónal Ó Ceallaigh]

Tom, the 3 Northern Irish players are eligable for both the Uk and Ireland, which means you can add Clarke to your list as playing for Ireland. Golf is an all-island sport so i wouldn't be suprised if the other 2 wished to play for Ireland but i think if the situation arises they will work a situation that allows the 3 of them to play.

Matthew

Absolute nonsense. If Dustin Johnson is struggling to make the "american team" do you think he would turn Canadian ? Do you think for a second the Canadians would allow it ? When participating at the Olympics, you play for your country irrespective of whether the governing body of that particular sport covers a larger geographical area.

Niall

Niall,

It is not absolute nonsense. Wayne McCullough won a silver medal in boxing when he represented Ireland. Boxing is an "all-Ireland" sport, just like golf. McCullough is a protestant from the Shankill Road in Belfast, is British, and would not regard himself as Irish (as in southern Irish). He also competed for Northern Ireland in the Commonwealth Games.

What Matthew has written makes perfect sense. I believe that Clarke, McDowell and McIlroy will make whatever decision that will allow all three of them to play in the Olympics. They are all eligible to hold both Irish and British passports.

The last thing you want do with people from Northern Ireland, is force them to choose a nationality. Some regard themselves as British and Northern Irish, much like a Scottish person is Scottish and British, but others regard themselves as Northern Irish and/or Irish. Others just regard themselves as Norther Irish. It's a very delicate situation and unless you have lived there, you cannot begin to understand how complicated the issue of nationality is.

[Matthew Hunt]

Niall,

My point is Northern Ireland is currently is in a unique situation with an automatic right dual nationality (At the moment, if there is ever a solution in Middle East this will have to be part of a deal and part's of Africia/Aisa have looked at it).Rory McIlroy has the same protection the Irish Constitution as Padriag Harrington. The CAS has held that that all international sporting organisations have to respect this. Northern Ireland sports Fans will be cheering any of the 3 mentioned in the Olympics whether their t-shirt is Green or Red. Canada or the US won't be winning any golfing metal's in 2016 so it doesn't matter

Donal, well summed up.