Golf is in, for 2016.

Its been announced today that Golf along with rugby Sevens are in the Olympics for 2016.

TheLyth

Lythh, about time too and let hope the coverage is not compromised however the way things are going it'll probably be on pay perview.

Will it only be amatuer golfers or will the pro's be allowed to compete?

Damn Gary, beat me to it!

The news coverage I heard earlier suggested it would be a professional event.. As they were questioning whether Tiger Woods would be competing for a gold medal at the age of 40.

Now I know Tennis & Football is tested with the professional ranks, but I believe the professionals in golf are rewarded enough for what they do each season and so the golf event at the Olympics should be for the amateurs.  Look at Boxing, its done on an amateur level but there always seems to be 3 or 4 guys who turn pro once the olympics has finished.

This could be what the amateurs of golf need, a good olympics could see them turning pro or taking part in pro tournments, opening a few doors.

I don't know too much about amateur golf, but if I'm talking cack, please let me know!

I'm not 100% sure of this but I think in the Football, a Pro must be under 25 and not played for the 1st team over a certain number of times.

For Golf, I would like to see a Pro-Am style event with all players having to be under a set age. Countries can enter Pro-Am or Am-Am, some of the Olympic Countries don't have any Professional golfers.

TheLyth

From what I've heard it is just going to be a regular 72 hole tournament with the pro's playing.  The only difference will be each country will have a limited amount of players.

I don't really think that golf going into the olympics is a smart move either for the sport or for the games.  Tennis has been a farce and I don't think any sport should be in the olympics that already has championships which will mean more to competitors than the games.

I think generally that the major sports football, golf, rugby, tennis and cricket all need to realise that sometimes less is more and concentrate on fewer games of higher quality.

Jon,

I've read the bit on the R&A site and think the proposal goes against the Olympic Ethic. Not allowing the worlds top amateurs to compete is totally wrong.

TheLyth