Golf in the Olympics...your views
Golf and rugby sevens have been approved as Olympic sports after the International Olympic Committee voted for their inclusion on the programme for the 2016 Games in Rio de Janeiro.
Each sport received majority support after leading athletes and officials from both camps gave presentations - including a video message from Tiger Woods.
But will winning gold be the greatest day of Woods' glittering career? I think not. I doubt the world number one will even bother to pack his clubs.
The Olympics should be the pinnacle of a sport. The ultimate goal in track and field is to win an Olympic gold medal. Athletes train for four years to achieve that feat. Does Rory McIlroy lies awake at night dreaming of winning a medal or a major?
In fact, if the Olympics started tomorrow, McIlroy wouldn't even be on the plane.
Based on the Olympic format, only the top 15, regardless of nationality, will be in the field of 60. After that the remaining 45 will be selected on rankings, but only players from different nations who do not already have two representatives will be added to the roster.
This means Paul Casey and Lee Westwood would represent Team GB and despite being ranked 19th in the world, McIlroy would miss out, with players outside of the top 300 putting on the Rio greens instead.
Other sports which lost out included squash and karate - both far more deserving of a permanent Olympic spot.
Do you think golf should be included in the Olympic programme or have the IOC made a mistake? Send in your comments by filling in the boxes below.
The format is poor, it should follow the amateur championships format of stroke play to qualify for the last 64 matchplay for the gold medal. Include all the top world amateur players and therefore include more of the Olympic ideals.
Posted by: Bruce | 16 November 2009 at 14:43
Love golf !! but no no no no its not an olympic sport like many others they keep adding on ie- Tennis,football ect What next ! darts
Posted by: bob hazlewood | 16 November 2009 at 11:11
I love golf & love watching the top events but its wrong to be selected for the Olympics
Posted by: chris | 25 October 2009 at 04:25
the only people to gain from an olympics are the builders and landowners .....
the common people are the fools that have to pay for it !!
Posted by: les lee | 11 October 2009 at 18:43
Re.Simon Sparkles. It is wrong on so many levels because winning gold should be the best thing to do in that sport. For Bolt, nothing can top that. But for a golfer, winning a major or the Ryder Cup will top that which devalues the Games.
Posted by: Harry | 10 October 2009 at 15:00
Re Harry. Golf shouldn't be in the olympics because it makes a mockery of what games are all about. What would that be then, because it always used to be about the best amateurs in the world competing on a level playing field,where as it is now all about who gets paid the most (Usain Bolt) or who can take the best undetectable drugs (any athlete,weightlifter,boxer etc) so according to your views all sports must be "wrong on so many levels". Maybe it's just that you don't like golf, well i don't like some sports, but that doesn't mean they should be excluded from the greatest show on earth.
Posted by: simon sparkes | 10 October 2009 at 12:23
A great idea, would tou rather watch a bunch of fat people lifting weights, or watch the best golfers battle it out on the worlds biggest stage? I know what I would choose.......
Posted by: James | 10 October 2009 at 11:51
Americans will 100% percents get gold medal in rugby
and who can play golf best of all?what countries?
Posted by: Lauren | 09 October 2009 at 22:36
I think golf in the Olympics is a great idea. It's much more enjoyable than the likes of weightlifting and archery. My tip for gold in 2016 is Spain's Sergio Garcia.
Posted by: Sammy | 09 October 2009 at 16:26
What a joke. Golf shouldn't be in the Olympics. It makes a mockery of what the Games are all about. Can you imagine Westy battling Tiger for gold? It is wrong on so many levels.
Posted by: Harry | 09 October 2009 at 16:10