Golf Coming to the 2016 Olympics?!

The waiting might be over!  Well, we should rephrase, the waiting, after we wait an additional 7 years, might be over!  That’s right, for all of you, and us, that wanted Golf to be an Olympic Sport for the last, well, 100 years, might just be getting our wish.  Unfortunately, it’s all up in the air still and we’re going to have to wait until the International Olympic Committee actually makes up their minds as to whether or not golf should be re-instated as an official Olympic Game.

Golf In Olympics in 1900 & 1904

What you might not know, is that golf actually has been an Olympic sport before, although it was nowhere near the same golf that you know and love today.  Back in 1900 at the Paris Olympic Games, golf was included as a sport but the caliber of play, the scores recorded and the simple fact that the women only played nine holes meant that it was far from what you would recognize today.  The woman’s gold medal was won by Peggy Abbott, who was vacationing in Paris at the time, she shot a 47 on the nine-hole course.  The gold medal for the men that year was won by George Sands, who posted an 82 and an 85.  In short, the inclusion of golf in both the 1900 and 1904 Olympic games was seen as farcical.

Golf At All Time Popular High

Now, however, the popularity and demand for golf is at an all-time high.  Events are packing in the fans, sponsorships are everywhere, and the PGA, LPGA and Seniors tour are raking in the dough.  Now, with golfers like Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Vijay Singh, Sergio Garcia, Adam Scott and many others, more countries are represented with top-notch talent.  NOW, would be the perfect time to bring golf back as an Olympic sport and in addition to the IOC recommending it,  many of PGA’s finest pros are pushing for it to.

Tiger Sounds Off

Reporters caught up to Tiger Woods yesterday, and here’s what he had to say about the prospect:

“I think that golf is truly a global sport, and I think it should have been in the Olympics a while ago,…If it does get in, I think it would be great for golf and especially some of the other smaller countries that are now emerging in golf.”

Keep Those Fingers Crossed…

The question is whether or not he would actually play.  When asked he said if he wasn’t retired, he’d be in.  Now we just have to hope that the Olympics will include it, and that Tiger will still be playing when they do!