Golfer Adam Scott will not represent Australia at the Rio Games this summer in the sport's return to the Olympics, citing a "busy playing schedule as well as professional and personal commitments," according to Brent Read of THE AUSTRALIAN. Scott "would have been an automatic selection in the Australian team" as a member of the top 15 in the Official World Golf Ranking. However, Scott last year was "critical of the format of the golf tournament" at the Olympics -- individual stroke play. At the time, he "refused to commit to the event." Read notes Scott's decision to withdraw "comes as little surprise," although Australia golf captain Ian Baker-Finch recently had "spoken of his belief that Scott would make himself available" (THEAUSTRALIAN.com.au, 4/20). GOLFWEEK's Jim McCabe noted Scott became the "second marquee name in less than a week to say he wouldn't be pursuing an Olympic spot" after Vijay Singh last week pulled out. However, the 53-year-old Singh is "well past his prime," while Scott "remains a force in the game" (GOLFWEEK.com, 4/19). In Sydney, Phil Lutton notes golf's return to the Olympics for the first time since 1904 has come with a debate "about the value of the tournament and the place of highly-paid professional athletes at the Games." World No. 1-ranked player Jason Day has "already declared his availability" for Australia, and other stars like the U.S.' Jordan Spieth have "put their weight behind the event." However, it "continues to polarise, much like the Olympic tennis tournament" (SYDNEY MORNING HERALD, 4/20).
FOLLOW THE LEADER: Golf Channel's Rex Hoggard noted Singh's decision last week to withdraw from Rio "probably opened the door for a guy like Adam Scott, who had been on the bench for a long time." Scott likely "didn’t want to be that first guy to take the step." Hoggard: "It gave him some ability to watch and see what the reaction to Vijay was. I don’t think Vijay caught a lot of heat for what he did last week, which probably gave Adam a little bit of a license." But Hoggard said he does not believe there is "anyone out there that is going to follow Vijay and Adam’s road and not go to the Olympics." Golf Channel’s Chris DiMarco said, “I appreciate the fact that he is doing it now and he is not waiting until a month before the Olympics. He’s withdrawing now, giving the other players of Australia the opportunity to go. … He thinks that the amateurs should play, and he’s stuck by that" (“Morning Drive,” Golf Channel, 4/20). In California, Larry Bohannan notes Scott and Singh are unlikely to "start an avalanche of other men professionals who will skip the Games." Most players -- even the ones who are "not thrilled about a trip to Brazil and a wacky summer schedule -- will go to Brazil and say all the right things and be happy to play for gold, silver or bronze." Some of in the 60-person field "might actually be downright excited for the chance." However, golf in the Olympics is "not the no-brainer sell to many of the players that organizers might have you believe" (Palm Springs DESERT SUN, 4/20).
ROSY OUTLOOK: Golfer Justin Rose is poised to represent Great Britain in the Olympics, and he said the "majority of golfers are very much excited" about playing in Rio. He said he is "viewing it as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity." Rose said the addition of golf to the Olympic program is "going to be great for growing the game." Rose: "Should a player from an emerging nation win it, I think that will be huge in terms of growing golf, not just in that country but worldwide” (“Squawk Box,” CNBC, 4/20).
TENNIS NOT IMMUNE EITHER: Top-ranked U.S. men's tennis player John Isner said that he "will not compete" at the Rio Games. In Atlanta, Doug Roberson noted one factor that led to Isner not playing is that he is the "three-time defending champ" of the ATP BB&T Atlanta Open, which will be played July 30-Aug 7, the "week before tennis begins in Rio." Isner: "Logistically, it would be pretty much impossible for me to do both" (ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION, 4/19). In Greensboro, Jeff Mills notes unlike the '12 London Games, the Rio tournament "has no points value" that carry over to the ATP's yearly total. This will mark the third consecutive Olympics "skipped by the top-ranked American" -- James Blake skipped London, while Andy Roddick did not play in the '08 Beijing Games (Greensboro NEWS & RECORD, 4/20).
