Louis Oosthuizen has become the latest top golfer to pull out of the Rio Games, citing "family and scheduling issues" for why he will not represent South Africa in the sport's return to the Olympics, according to Ryan Lavner of GOLFCHANNEL.com. Oosthuizen, who currently is ranked 12th in the world, was slated to join Branden Grace to play for South Africa. Charl Schwartzel is "next in line" to play for the country. Adam Scott earlier this week announced he would not represent Australia at the Games, while Vijay Singh has said he will not play for his native Fiji (GOLFCHANNEL.com, 4/21). GOLFWEEK.com's Jim McCabe writes Oosthuizen, the '10 British Open champ, likely "considers the placement of the Olympic tournament to be at a time of the year when he wants his focus to be on his sport's major championships" (GOLFWEEK.com, 4/21). GOLF.com's Joel Beall notes with two stars "bowing out just days apart, some -- including Jack Nicklaus -- worry the game is sending the wrong message to the rest of the sports world." Nicklaus said, "What I'm concerned about is that golf has a little bit of momentum going right now. If the guys don't want to participate, then we might not be in the Olympics after this. They vote next year. And if they vote to keep golf in, then that's great, but if not then we lose that momentum with growing the game" (GOLF.com, 4/21). Golf Channel’s Chris DiMarco said the absence of Oosthuizen and Scott is "bad for the Olympics, it's bad for golf to not have the greatest players there” ("Morning Drive," Golf Channel, 4/21).
MOVES SHOULD NOT BE A SURPRISE: In Vancouver, Cam Cole writes for many pro golfers, the Olympics "are just not that big a deal." That is why "no one should be surprised by, or critical," of the decisions made by Scott and Oosthuizen. The Olympics should not be "an inconvenience, an obligation, a lukewarm addition to an already crammed schedule in a sport where there are more sought-after championships." Scott had been critical of the individual stroke play format for the Games, and "probably would play if he were representing Australia in a team event." But the Olympics "is not a team event" and is "not even match play." It is "just a golf tournament, with a small and relatively watered-down field" (VANCOUVER SUN, 4/21). GOLFWEEK's McCabe wrote from Day 1, Scott "has been exactly what we need more of in this world -- honest and committed." Scott "isn’t naive; he knows there will be critics, especially the ignorant ones who will see this as an athlete turning down the chance to play for national pride." Every time Scott "tees it up, there is an Aussie flag on his bag and next to his name, and when he hears the 'Aussie, Aussie, Aussie' chant, he responds." He "cares about his roots and he’s not turning his back on Australia; fact is, the people who came up with the imprudent idea to make this yet another 72-hole individual stroke-play competition are the ones who need to take responsibility for killing enthusiasm for the Olympic golf tournament" (GOLFWEEK.com, 4/20).
FLAWED FROM THE START? USATODAY.com's Luke Kerr-Dineen wrote a Gold Medal "should be the highest honor there is to win in the chosen sport," and anything less "devalues the entire competition." That is "not the case in golf." Perhaps the IOC "could have made it an amateur competition, or something different than just another stroke play event." Instead, they "invited a group full of indifferent professionals who are each pursuing different goals, and the Olympics is worse for it" (USATODAY.com, 4/20). FOXSPORTS.com's Chris Chase wrote there is "one key reason" why top golfers may not go to Rio -- "apathy." Golfers "don't grow up dreaming of winning a gold medal." They "aren't swimmers or gymnasts or track stars or archers or divers or the ones who compete in the event where they hold that ribbon." The Olympics are "not the ultimate prize for a golfer." If a gold medal "isn't the highest achievement in your sport, then your sport has no business being on the Olympic program" (FOXSPORTS.com, 4/20).
TAKE ONE FOR THE TEAM? In California, Shad Powers writes while some people are "generally unrankled by Scott's decision," he considers it "selfish and a bit of a slap in the face to the PGA [Tour], his home country, his sponsors and the Olympics." Powers: "Are you kidding me? This isn't the Justin Timberlake Shriners Children's Hospitals Open, it's the gosh darn Olympics!" (Palm Springs DESERT SUN, 4/21). Golf Channel’s Nicole Castrale said, “We’ve never seen any of these players (say), ‘Oh, I’m not going to play a Ryder Cup or I’m not going to play a Presidents Cup.’ So why is the Olympics that different?” Castrale: “You can’t necessarily compare a major to the Olympics. The majors, they always have the same four every single year. The Olympics is just … special. It’s an opportunity that you only get once every four years and you may only get once in a lifetime” (“Morning Drive,” Golf Channel, 4/21).
