SAN FRANCISCO, (Reuters) – Tiger Woods declared it “a perfect fit” and PGA Tour President Tim Finchem hailed it a “great day” for golf on Thursday after the sport was added to the line-up for the 2016 Olympic Games.
Golf and rugby sevens were added to the Olympics, from Rio de Janeiro in 2016, after a vote of members at the International Olympic Committee (IOC) session in Copenhagen.
Woods and many of the golfers taking part in the Presidents Cup team competition this week will be among the medal contenders when the sport returns to the Games for the first time since 1904.
“I think it’s great for golf,” 14-times major champion Woods told reporters. “It’s a perfect fit for the Olympics, and I think we are all looking forward to golf getting into the Olympics.
“Having talked to other athletes who have gotten a chance to experience the Olympics, they have absolutely loved it and had the greatest time.”
An Olympic gold medal might well be the crowning achievement for world number one Woods, who will be 40 in 2016 when 18-year-old Japanese sensation Ryo Ishikawa will just be hitting his prime.
Young talents such as Ishikawa, fellow teenager Danny Lee of New Zealand and 20-year-old Briton Rory McIlroy could be the new generation at the top of the golf rankings.
“As a golfer, I am honoured,” said Ishikawa, the youngest golfer to compete at a Presidents Cup.
“By having golf be a part of the Olympics, golfers will be more interested in the Olympics and then the sport of golf will get noticed more as well. I am looking forward to playing golf in the Olympics.”
Bitter-sweet news
However the news that golf was returning to the Olympics was bitter-sweet, coming too late for some golfers to realise their golden dreams.
“It’s great for golf, I don’t know if it’s great for me or not because I’ll be 43 and I might be over the hill by then,” said American Stewart Cink, who won his first major at the British Open in July.
Already one of the world’s most popular sports, golf’s return to the Olympic family is expected to open up new markets.
“This is a great day for the sport of golf,” declared Finchem. “I think the trajectory of growth for the game globally will be significantly enhanced.
“When you consider that over 100 countries will now invest in the sport to grow the game…it will catapult the level of growth, particularly in Asia, Eastern Europe and South America.
“Secondly, I think golf in the Olympics is going to strengthen the image and texture of the game. I think it is going to be more recognised as a truly athletic endeavour.”
The news was also welcomed by the European Tour.
“This is a proud and historic day for our sport. For golf to be associated again with the Olympic Games is a perfect fit in terms of honour and integrity, pride and passion, sportsmanship and goodwill,” tour chief executive George O’Grady said in a statement.
“The Olympics provide a special dream for the athletes of today and tomorrow and now golf can share in that dream.”
