Men's Olympic Golf

[Sean_A]

Do folks think that if trials were held to make the O team then more men would be interested in playing? For instance, what if the trial for the US team was the US Open? Highest placed players from the US qualify for the team. Same could hold true for any country with a national open with obvious limitations for the number of countries which could enter a team.

I am not saying that the Os would be a major, but why can't it be important for players in the way ice hockey is?

Ciao

[Ally Mcintosh]

The Olympics can only be important once it is the pinnacle of achievement in any given sport.


When it is the 5th, 6th or 7th most important and comes with zero financial reward, it ceases to mean anything significant to those high paid professionals.


For golf, the only way I can see that working is if all the focus is on a team / country medal rather than an individual medal.

[Sean_A]

Ally

Generally I think you are right. Yet hockey players want to play in the Os even though the Stanley Cup is the pinnacle of the sport. Many even want to play the World Championships.

Ciao

[Mike Sweeney]

“If the question is sports, the answer is money.”

Don Ohlmeyer

[Tom_Doak]

For many international hockey players - Swedes, Finns, Czech, Russians - the Olympics were the pinnacle before they ever dreamed of playing in the NHL.  And the Canadians want to assert their national pride.


There is no such thing in golf.  Golf is closer to Olympic baseball - it might motivate players from smaller countries, but not the Americans.

[Sean_A]

For many international hockey players - Swedes, Finns, Czech, Russians - the Olympics were the pinnacle before they ever dreamed of playing in the NHL.  And the Canadians want to assert their national pride.

There is no such thing in golf.  Golf is closer to Olympic baseball - it might motivate players from smaller countries, but not the Americans.

Tom


That is true and I did think of this. That said, we are on a third generation of a serious percentage of Euro/Russian hockey players in the NHL and the Os remain important, to the point that it interupts the NHL schedule and players risk injury which can shorten careers...all for no money.


My thought was that if men get more involved in O golf than the Os become more legit for females, who can use all the exposure they can get.


BTW...the NHL is now less than 50% Canadian, a fact that seems almost impossible to believe.


Ciao

[Bernie Bell]

My .02, it's either going to be important to an individual or not for reasons that have nothing to do with the golf or money.  For guys like Fowler, it's the chance to wear the colors, walk in the ceremonies, live in the village, eat in the mess hall, etc.  I don't think changing the qualification process would matter. 

[Tom_Doak]

My thought was that if men get more involved in O golf than the Os become more legit for females, who can use all the exposure they can get.

I agree that the Olympics are a more important event for the women, and they all know that -- there is no lack of enthusiasm on that side.  It's a rare chance to enjoy equal footing with the men, although of course, TV did not show them equally as much last time.


A team event and especially a co-ed team event would make it more about country, but of course the Olympics according to the IOC are not really about country . . .they insist it is about identifying the best athletes which is why the focus was 72-hole individual stroke play.  But if you are going to make it an individual tourney like all the rest, then it is really NOT about representing your country, and every golfer sees right through that.

[jeffwarne]

They play 4 Majors every year, a TPC (and about 12 WGC's )
Plus a FedEX.


while some would see that as a deterrent to Olympic participation...
I see it as the opposite.
Once every 4 (5 this time) years, playing the Olympics would seem like a heck of an opportunity.(and a bonus dream for many after growing up watching the Olympics).
There is certainly no other event that would be more gratifying to play in as a participant, ecept perhaps The Masters(win or lose)-it's not like he or anyone else is guaranteed a win in any event.


No one in a position to qualify for the US Olympic golf team is in a position of needing more $$.


And if it comes down to $$, which it shouldn't for the US men(see above), I' shocked a sponsor would even allow a DJ to skip it.
Surely there's more worldwide exposure in the Olympics than yet another WGC at Memphis(which he cited as a reason)


Some players get it, and more power to them for participating.


Quick-name the 2016 PGA champion or any WGC Champion that year.....or for that matter the Fed-Ex Cup.

[John Kavanaugh]

When I was younger I thought it would be great to have a son that became a Priest. The Olympics remind me a lot of the Catholic Church. You can only take so much scandal and corruption before titles no longer matter.

[Tom_Doak]

Once every 4 (5 this time) years, playing the Olympics would seem like a heck of an opportunity.(and a bonus dream for many after growing up watching the Olympics).
There is certainly no other event that would be more gratifying to play in as a participant, ecept perhaps The Masters(win or lose)-it's not like he or anyone else is guaranteed a win in any event.

Jeff:


The Olympics were successfully marketed to OUR generation by ABC et al back in the 1970's, but I don't think the younger generation has fallen in love with them the same way we did, for any number of reasons:  commercialism, doping, politics, etc.  I'm just not sure the prestige is as much as you think it is, for athletes whose sports are not dependent on the Olympics for funding.


If it was, then DJ would be itching to go.


Trying to tell the players what they should want to do has never been very successful.  They are independent contractors and they are well aware of the risks and rewards of that status.  Even the established Ryder Cup almost floundered twenty years ago when the younger generation of players asked where all the money was going . . . not because they needed more money, but because they questioned the idea of employing patriotism to insist they work for free on behalf of somebody else.

[Peter Flory]

I would have a qualifier for it that is specifically to determine who goes to the Olympics- open to pros and ams.  Have local 18 hole qualifiers on a Monday and then a National 36 hole qualifier on a Monday-Tuesday with a cut after the first round.  The Monday thing is so that it doesn't interfere with any PGA pro's schedule. 

That way nobody is put in the awkward position where they are expected to go just because of their world ranking.  Everyone who signs up presumably has the motivation to do it.  It would be a great opportunity for college players and mini tour players to make a name for themselves, but it would also give PGA pros a chance to defend their honor. 

[Thomas Dai]

A glistening gold medal appearing close to a sponsors logo surely ought to look an attractive advertising opportunity? Perhaps some sponsors may wish to have a word with those players they pay or even reword their contracts?
Atb

[Sean_A]

I would have a qualifier for it that is specifically to determine who goes to the Olympics- open to pros and ams.  Have local 18 hole qualifiers on a Monday and then a National 36 hole qualifier on a Monday-Tuesday with a cut after the first round.  The Monday thing is so that it doesn't interfere with any PGA pro's schedule. 

That way nobody is put in the awkward position where they are expected to go just because of their world ranking.  Everyone who signs up presumably has the motivation to do it.  It would be a great opportunity for college players and mini tour players to make a name for themselves, but it would also give PGA pros a chance to defend their honor.

Yes, I thought it best to avoid world ranking "invitation" to the Os. But if we want the best players to consider going, having a separate qualifier isnt gonna work. Hence the idea of using national opens as qualifiers.

Anyway, for the idea of men getting on board is mostly because I think the sport would continue at O level which would be great for women...assuming the event is shown on TV!

Ciao

[Peter Flory]

I would have a qualifier for it that is specifically to determine who goes to the Olympics- open to pros and ams.  Have local 18 hole qualifiers on a Monday and then a National 36 hole qualifier on a Monday-Tuesday with a cut after the first round.  The Monday thing is so that it doesn't interfere with any PGA pro's schedule. 

That way nobody is put in the awkward position where they are expected to go just because of their world ranking.  Everyone who signs up presumably has the motivation to do it.  It would be a great opportunity for college players and mini tour players to make a name for themselves, but it would also give PGA pros a chance to defend their honor.

Yes, I thought it best to avoid world ranking "invitation" to the Os. But if we want the best players to consider going, having a separate qualifier isnt gonna work. Hence the idea of using national opens as qualifiers.

Anyway, for the idea of men getting on board is mostly because I think the sport would continue at O level which would be great for women...assuming the event is shown on TV!

Ciao

I guess I'd rather see a pretty good player go who wants to be there over a great player who reluctantly goes. 

[Tom_Doak]

That's not what The Olympics want, though.  Remember, countries are only allowed to send two players and they have to be ranked among the top players in the world.0

[MKrohn]

Like last time, the ones who don't go won't really be missed.

[Tim Martin]

Between Zika in 2016 and COVID-19 in 2020 Olympic golf is an afterthought for many of the players. Incredibly bad luck for an event that was reintroduced after a one hundred and eight year absence.

[JLahrman]

For golf, the only way I can see that working is if all the focus is on a team / country medal rather than an individual medal.

I thought Olympic golf might have a chance if it was a team event with a format similar to the old Dunhill Cup (three man or maybe five man teams per country, round robin play with a knockout stage). That would make it interesting whether it were pros or amateurs.


72 hold medal play for individuals? Snore.

[Peter Flory]

I agree- that format is lifeless. 

[PCCraig]

I loved everything about the last Olympic golf tournament.


Winning a gold medal in that event is as much of a Major as I can think of. Certainly I'd take one over a PGA Championship.


But Pros have a different mindset I suppose ($$$).

[jeffwarne]

I loved everything about the last Olympic golf tournament.


Winning a gold medal in that event is as much of a Major as I can think of. Certainly I'd take one over a PGA Championship.


But Pros have a different mindset I suppose ($$$).

agreed
while we would enjoy Match play, it would take too long and further dilute the field.


And Tom, "telling players what to do" isn't what I'm suggesting, but rather offering an incentive in his contract, a win win for both parties.


"Hey DJ, instead of multiple vapid sponsor's appearances, we're prepared to rewrite your multi million $$ contract under the condition that if you are qualified, you play in the Olympics, or use best efforts to do so."
Worldwide exposure is worth something for Taylormade..


But ultimately, as it is,it is the player's choice, and I have no problem with that,
I think plenty will go happily-just a miss for DJ(wasn't he crying at The Masters a few months ago?) and his sponsors.


At this point I don't think anyone would trade a major, unless they already had a couple, but is a unique event to win and be a part of that few will get the opportunity to do.
Plenty more FedEX events...

[John Kavanaugh]

If you hold a biggest douchebag competition and only invite three Americans your likelyhood of finding the biggest douche in the world is greatly diminished.

[Kalen Braley]

The Olympics biggest flaw has always been it doesn't include all the best for any particular sport, even all the worst douchebags. 

However as it concerns golf, I think Tom D pretty much summed it up.  None of todays pros grew up aspiring to play in the Olympics, unlike many other sports.  But if golf remains in the Olympics, hopefully 20-30 years from now there will be a fresh crop of pros who may be interested...

[John Kavanaugh]

https://olympics.nbcsports.com/2020/06/06/kurt-thomas-dies-gymnastics/


Kurt Thomas died in 2020. I went to see him in an exhibition as a show of support when the USA boycotted the 1980 Olympics. He was an Olympian.