An Olympic effort by stars
Bid for 2016 Games helped by big names
It’s been 105 years since the Olympic Games raised the flag for a gold medalist in golf, but if the game’s biggest names can help sway a small number of decision-makers, then golf might be back on the grandest of global sports stages, as early as 2016.
Golf is one of seven sports vying for two open spots at the 2016 Summer Games, along with baseball, softball, karate, squash, roller sports, and rugby sevens. On Aug. 13, the 15-member executive board of the International Olympic Committee will recommend the two sports to be added - a full IOC vote later will make it official.
In its bid for inclusion, golf has pulled out all the stops, with the help of the sport’s top organizations and brightest stars. The PGA Tour, LPGA Tour, US Golf Association, R&A, and Augusta National Golf Club are some of the groups that have helped form the International Golf Federation. The IGF made its official presentation to the IOC executive board last month that included a 4 1/2-minute video featuring top players, past and present, speaking on how important it would be for golf to be part of the Olympics. Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Anthony Kim, and Paula Creamer were featured Americans. But because this decision takes into account golf’s global standing, appeal, and possibilities, the video also included, among others, Annika Sorenstam of Sweden, Ernie Els of South Africa, Camilo Villegas of Colombia, Lorena Ochoa of Mexico, Karrie Webb of Australia, Sergio Garcia of Spain, Mike Weir of Canada, and K.J. Choi of South Korea.
“One of the things I wish I had the chance to do was to represent my country and compete for a gold medal in the Olympic Games,’’ Nicklaus says in the video. “The growth of the game in countries we have not seen in golf would be tremendous: China, India, Russia . . . It would give a real push to really grow the game.’’
Woods touted golf’s responsibility in getting more youth involved with the game, something the IOC likely will consider when making its recommendation, since a sport’s universal appeal among people of all ages, male and female, could be a deciding factor.
One big positive for golf is the interest coming from the world’s best players and the possibility they will compete. Baseball has been part of 12 Olympic Games, but only five times as an official sport, starting in 1992. But the top major leaguers never were allowed to play, since Major League Baseball has little interest in disrupting its season in July and August. The US teams have been filled with college players and obscure minor leaguers.
But golf wouldn’t have much trouble clearing its schedules to free up the world’s best men and women. It also helps that golf in the Olympics could be held in a short window. A few practice rounds, followed by four days of 18-hole stroke play, and competitors could come and go in a week’s time.
Another plus for golf is infrastructure: Expensive venues, in all likelihood, would have to be built for the other six candidates. The golf competition, however, would likely be contested on a course that already exists. If the IOC is concerned about the number of athletes, golf wouldn’t be bringing many; the IGF’s proposal calls for a field of 60 players for each tournament.
One drawback: The Olympics, while prestigious, would still probably rank lower than golf’s major tournaments that have been around for decades or, in the case of the British Open, since 1860. If the IOC wants to add sports where the Olympics would be the unquestioned competitive summit, then golf might not get selected. The players, though, were quick to say how meaningful golf in the Olympics would be to them.
“As an athlete, the Olympics are everything,’’ said Ochoa, the top-ranked woman. “[The Olympics are] all about values, and that’s reflected in the game of golf.’’
Garcia and Mickelson shared that theme, pointing to many of golf’s traits - honesty, integrity, sportsmanship - and how those fit perfectly into the Olympic spirit.
Said Els, “For me to compete in the Olympics would be an absolute dream come true.’’
Having so many established golf icons around the world coming together and pushing for golf to be selected can’t hurt. But each of the seven sports made passionate pleas.
Golf has a strong case, with recognizable athletes doing their best sales job. In a sport with a long history and well-known past champions, perhaps Woods, Els, Garcia, and Mickelson go to bed at night dreaming about becoming the next George Seymour Lyon. He was the unlikely Canadian cricketer who, despite taking up golf at age 38, shot qualifying rounds of 85-84 to advance to match play, then slogged through five 36-hole matches at the Glen Echo Country Club in St. Louis to become the 1904 Olympic Games golf champion.
Will he be the last?
Whatever was in the water at the RBC Canadian Open last week, I’d like some. It’s not often a tournament winner (in this case, Nathan Green, who beat Retief Goosen in a playoff for his first PGA Tour victory) gets overshadowed by other action on the course. But history was made at Glen Abbey Golf Club, and Green wasn’t part of it.
The second round won’t soon be forgotten, and we’re not talking about the numerous weather delays, which prompted a Monday finish. Mark Calcavecchia set a tour record by making nine consecutive birdies, breaking the mark of eight, which had been done six times. Calcavecchia, with his 15-year-old son, Eric, caddying for him, ran off birdies on Nos. 12-18 (he played the back nine first), then made the turn and birdied the first and second holes. That made him 9 under through 11 holes, but he made two bogeys coming in, and shot 65, which wasn’t even the low round of the day.
Also in the second round, four players made aces on the 15th hole, none more exciting than Leif Olson, whose ball ricocheted off the ball of Kris Blanks, sending it into the cup. It won Olson - who had earned just $19,000 this year - a $50,000 BMW convertible. For the week, there were eight aces at the Canadian Open; coming in there had been a total of 32 this season in 21 tour events.
Also coming up aces were Joe Durant and Peter Lonard in the first round, Arjun Atwal, Briny Baird, and Casey Wittenberg in the second round, local favorite Mike Weir in the third round, and Kevin Sutherland in the fourth round. Atwal, Baird, and Wittenberg also won convertibles with their shots.
Play at Glen Abbey abnormal
Whatever was in the water at the RBC Canadian Open last week, I’d like some. It’s not often a tournament winner (in this case, Nathan Green, who beat Retief Goosen in a playoff for his first PGA Tour victory) gets overshadowed by other action on the course. But history was made at Glen Abbey Golf Club, and Green wasn’t part of it.The second round won’t soon be forgotten, and we’re not talking about the numerous weather delays, which prompted a Monday finish. Mark Calcavecchia set a tour record by making nine consecutive birdies, breaking the mark of eight, which had been done six times. Calcavecchia, with his 15-year-old son, Eric, caddying for him, ran off birdies on Nos. 12-18 (he played the back nine first), then made the turn and birdied the first and second holes. That made him 9 under through 11 holes, but he made two bogeys coming in, and shot 65, which wasn’t even the low round of the day.
Also in the second round, four players made aces on the 15th hole, none more exciting than Leif Olson, whose ball ricocheted off the ball of Kris Blanks, sending it into the cup. It won Olson - who had earned just $19,000 this year - a $50,000 BMW convertible. For the week, there were eight aces at the Canadian Open; coming in there had been a total of 32 this season in 21 tour events.
Also coming up aces were Joe Durant and Peter Lonard in the first round, Arjun Atwal, Briny Baird, and Casey Wittenberg in the second round, local favorite Mike Weir in the third round, and Kevin Sutherland in the fourth round. Atwal, Baird, and Wittenberg also won convertibles with their shots.
PGA Championship is in Mickelson's plans
He skipped the British Open to end his streak of majors played at 61, but Phil Mickelson is ready to start another streak. He’ll play in next week’s Bridgestone Invitational in Akron, Ohio, and if all continues to go well at home, he’ll make the trip to Hazeltine National near Minneapolis for the PGA Championship the following week.Mickelson played a practice round at Hazeltine yesterday. He prefers to play the week before a major, and said on his website Tuesday that he’s ready to get back to competitive golf. Mickelson’s wife, Amy, and mother, Mary, recently have undergone surgery for breast cancer.
“I have had a great six weeks at home. Things are going very well and I am excited about the opportunity to start playing some tournaments again,’’ Mickelson wrote. “I’ll play the Bridgestone Invitational, PGA Championship, and The Barclays for sure, and if things continue to go well I’ll be able to play more.’’
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Michael Whitmer can be reached at mwhitmer@globe.com 
