Do Jason, Jordan, Adam et al regret not playing the Olympics?

[Ruediger Meyer]

Sean -

I disagree. Whether these countries regularly have golf shown on TV is not really the point. If you use the stats from Sweden, far, far more people watched golf than regularly dosolely because it was in the Olympics and because Stenson was in contention. That  audience cared more about watching Stenson in the Olympics than they did about watching him in the Open.

DT

You simply cannot say whether they cared more since they weren't able to watch him in the Open without paying for it.

[Sean_A]

Sean -

I disagree. Whether these countries regularly have golf shown on TV is not really the point. If you use the stats from Sweden, far, far more people watched golf than regularly dosolely because it was in the Olympics and because Stenson was in contention. That  audience cared more about watching Stenson in the Olympics than they did about watching him in the Open.

DT

Totally off base David. Its like comparing how many people will eat ice cream when itsfree and delievered free compared to paying for the ice scream and the delivery.  Of course the answer is very predictable.

Sweden has one of the highest golf participation rates. It had one of their athletes fighting for Gold. And unlike the majors the Olympic Golf was available for free for everyone who is interested in it.

As  say, I wonder how many countries were able to watch golf that couldn't watch any other golf the remainder of the year.  This is the first probing question.

Ciao

[David_Tepper]

Sean & Ruediger  -

Yes, maybe my example about the increased viewership in Sweden is a bit distorted by the free vs. the pay channel on which the two golf events were broadcast.

On the other hand, the very high ratings that the Olympic golf broadcast got in the U.S. tells me that it was more than the usual "golf wing-nuts" who were watching the event. Just as there are people who would never watch a diving competition on TV unless is was in the Olympics, I strongly suspect there are people who would never watch golf on TV unless it was in the Olympics.

It certainly would be interesting to get an answer to your question about how many people in countries around the world watched and are watching the Olympic golf in countries where golf is not broadcast on a regular basis.

DT

[David_Tepper]

http://www.golfchannel.com/news/rex-hoggard/indias-ashok-could-have-massive-impact-olympic-medal/

"Massive"

[Jon Wiggett]

Jon


There's no doubt that the zika virus was a handy excuse for some and perhaps more of a concern for others but the bottom line is these guys didn't want to be there which doesn't make them bad people.


Niall

Niall,


I never said that it did make them bad people just that they should not be considered for future games.


Also, for me growing the game does not have to infer economic growth but rather getting new people to take the game up to replace those who depart it. If you do not grow the game as it loses participants then it will die in the end and as it is always going to lose participants then you have to grow the game. I suspect you are thinking of growing the game in the definition of expanding the game.


Jon

[Niall C]

Niall -

You are right, "all those non-golfers still had a tournament to watch." And, fortunately, there was an exciting/compelling finish down the back nine of Sunday. But wouldn't having the majority of the top 20 or 30 golfers in the world competing in the event over the 4 days it was broadcast made the display of the game that much more compelling?

If you were going to promote any sport (or any activity for that matter), wouldn't you want to show the best that sport had to offer?

DT

David


I've spent the last week and a half watching all manner of sports that I don't watch from one Olympics to the next and I've mostly enjoyed them. If it wasn't for the commentary telling me where the various competitors were placed in their world rankings I'd been none the wiser and would probably have been just as interested watching some second tier competitors. It was the sport I was interested in.


I imagine anyone watching golf at the Olympics who is unfamiliar with the sport probably felt the same, indeed I bet they would have enjoyed it more watching some hacker who doesn't take an eternity to play a shot. Speed of play is definitely something golf can learn from other sports.


Niall

[Tony_Muldoon]

Anyone know where I can get the viewing figures for the Mens Golf on the BBC?




https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2016/jul/18/open-sky-sports-bbc-troon


1.1m watched The Open on Sky and 1.5m the BBC highlights.

[Mark Chaplin]

The crime and damage in Rio is appalling, fortunately the US swimming team are returning home so the situation should improve.

[David_Tepper]

"If it wasn't for the commentary telling me where the various competitors were placed in their world rankings I'd been none the wiser and would probably have been just as interested watching some second tier competitors."

Niall -

We can go back and forth on this endlessly, as we are all entitled to our opinions.

However, I would suggest that, when you view just about any sport in the Olympics, it is implicit you are watching the very best competitors in that sport in the world. You don't need to be told that.

DT

[Jim Nugent]

However, I would suggest that, when you view just about any sport in the Olympics, it is implicit you are watching the very best competitors in that sport in the world. You don't need to be told that.

DT

For golf that was not the case, could not be the case, and never will be the case, unless they make some radical changes to the format/field. 

[George Pazin]

So David, you're basing your opinion on Olympic golf on the TV ratings of Sweden?


I'd be hard pressed to find a better example in support of the contrary opinion...

[David_Tepper]

"So David, you're basing your opinion on Olympic golf on the TV ratings of Sweden?"

George P. -

No, I am not and I  said that may be a case of comparing apples and oranges. I do think the high ratings it got in the U.S. speaks volumes regarding the potential interest in golf (via the Olympics) beyond the usual audience for golf here in the U.S.

As Sean A. stated (and I concurred), it would certainly be interesting to know what the viewership was in countries where there is little or no golf broadcast on a regular basis.

DT

[Jon Wiggett]

Anyone know where I can get the viewing figures for the Mens Golf on the BBC?




https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2016/jul/18/open-sky-sports-bbc-troon


1.1m watched The Open on Sky and 1.5m the BBC highlights.

compared to 4.7m in 2015. Another great example of the R&A growing the game

[George Pazin]

We've actually had a good bit of Olympics golf on at my shop. But mostly it's been a case of "There's nothing else on" and me constantly repeating "I've had dinner at Gil Hanse's with Ran, Tom Paul and Pat Mucci!". My guys might punch me if I say it again...


I do hope they have it at the next Olympics, as I'm hoping it will be at a Japanese course worthy that has been relatively untelevised (Colt-Alison is what I'm implying here, lest anyone misunderstand).

[Bill Seitz]

Of course winning the Stanley Cup will always be the pinnacle of the sport just as the majors are in golf, but I can see O medals carrying influence for things like Hall of Fame.  Its becoming more of a big deal when players can say they won Stanley, Os and Worlds...the triple.  One isn't a part of all three successes by accident or as a bit part. 

Well, Olympics and Stanley Cup, maybe.  If you're North American, winning the World Championship just means you and a bunch of other good players had the good fortune of being on crappy NHL teams in that particular year.


Count me in for a format change making things more interesting.  It just makes for a weird field as an individual event under Olympic participation rules.  Of course the flip side is that it's too much like a PGA Tour event to just invite the World top 156 or something.  Do something like the old team stroke play format that they used to have in the NCAA tournament.

[Ruediger Meyer]

"So David, you're basing your opinion on Olympic golf on the TV ratings of Sweden?"

George P. -

No, I am not and I  said that may be a case of comparing apples and oranges. I do think the high ratings it got in the U.S. speaks volumes regarding the potential interest in golf (via the Olympics) beyond the usual audience for golf here in the U.S.

As Sean A. stated (and I concurred), it would certainly be interesting to know what the viewership was in countries where there is little or no golf broadcast on a regular basis. And I am not only talking about Football or Handball. I am talking about shooting, diving, sailing, fencing, Volleyball without a german team. The list goes on and on.

DT

Let me help you with that: In germany there is almost no golf shown on freely available television. The Final round coverage had 4 Million viewers. A massive number.


But here's the kicker (and a lesson why you should ALWAYS look behind the bare numbers): They have shown the final round live shortly before Rose and Stenson chipped into 18. Overall they have shown from the final only Kaymer's tee shot on one and a few minutes, ten minutes in between and 19 Minutes late. So far the women's tournament has been on for maybe twenty to thirty minutes overall.
And there's another caveat: The rating for Golf was the worst of the Olympic coverage. Whenever they have shown a little bit of golf the ratings took a dip.

[Sean_A]

Of course winning the Stanley Cup will always be the pinnacle of the sport just as the majors are in golf, but I can see O medals carrying influence for things like Hall of Fame.  Its becoming more of a big deal when players can say they won Stanley, Os and Worlds...the triple.  One isn't a part of all three successes by accident or as a bit part. 

Well, Olympics and Stanley Cup, maybe.  If you're North American, winning the World Championship just means you and a bunch of other good players had the good fortune of being on crappy NHL teams in that particular year.

Which is at least half the league    and then likely 8 more teams after the first round knockout.  Make no mistake, the Worlds teams are of a very high quality.  On any given day a world team can beat its own O team.  Bottom line, for the best countries...there aren't enough spots for all the good players.


Ciao

[David_Tepper]

Just read that Mike Clayton is caddying for Sue Oh in Rio. Hopefully he will share his thoughts on the course and the event with us at some point.

[Jon Wiggett]

Of course winning the Stanley Cup will always be the pinnacle of the sport just as the majors are in golf, but I can see O medals carrying influence for things like Hall of Fame.  Its becoming more of a big deal when players can say they won Stanley, Os and Worlds...the triple.  One isn't a part of all three successes by accident or as a bit part. 

Well, Olympics and Stanley Cup, maybe.  If you're North American, winning the World Championship just means you and a bunch of other good players had the good fortune of being on crappy NHL teams in that particular year.

Which is at least half the league    and then likely 8 more teams after the first round knockout.  Make no mistake, the Worlds teams are of a very high quality.  On any given day a world team can beat its own O team.  Bottom line, for the best countries...there aren't enough spots for all the good players.


Ciao

The Stanley Cup, is that Basket Ball or Ice Hockey?

[Thomas Dai]

Do Jason, Jordan, Adam et al regret not playing the Olympics?


I wonder how they and others will feel inside should the usually modest Justin Rose decide to walk down the range at the next tour event with his gold medal around his neck?


Will they applaud? Will they smirk? Will they laugh? Will they look away? Will they shake his hand and want to examine the medal? 😊


Atb

[Tom_Doak]

Congrats to Inbee Park for winning the gold medal this morning in a bit of a runaway.  [She must like modern, firm and fast courses; she also won the Women's Open at Sebonack.]  She wound up with a lower score than any of the men ... because she might be a better putter than they are.


 The women's event got nowhere near the attention on GCA that the men did, even though all of the best players participated, and they represent a much bigger spectrum of countries around the world:  gold to South Korea, silver to New Zealand, bronze to China.  If the bronze medal could get the president of China to back off his dislike of golf, even just a bit, that would be a huge impact.*


* but it's not gonna happen

[Terry Lavin]

It didn't get much attention in Rio either.

[Tim Martin]

They blew it because representing their country was not a compelling enough reason. Yet when the Ryder Cup comes around "playing for your country" means everything. There is an inherent disconnect in this thinking.

[Thomas Dai]

They blew it because representing their country was not a compelling enough reason. Yet when the Ryder Cup comes around "playing for your country" means everything. There is an inherent disconnect in this thinking.

Strictly speaking only half of those participating in the Ryder Cup are playing 'for their country'.......and on a few occasions I'm not so sure even half were! 😊


Atb

[Tim Martin]

They blew it because representing their country was not a compelling enough reason. Yet when the Ryder Cup comes around "playing for your country" means everything. There is an inherent disconnect in this thinking.

Strictly speaking only half of those participating in the Ryder Cup are playing 'for their country'.......and on a few occasions I'm not so sure even half were! 😊


Atb

You can spin it any way you want but you know what I mean. Playing for "Continental Europe" is just as or even more important than it is to the Americans playing for the USA. You think Rory or Jordan are missing the Ryder Cup for similar reasons?