IOC President Thomas Bach yesterday said that the absence of many of the top men from the Olympic golf tournament in Rio "will be taken into account in evaluating the sport's future in the Games," according to Stephen Wilson of the AP. Bach said that the IOC "has to respect the individual decisions of golfers who pulled out citing concerns over Zika but noted that there have also been very different reasons not related to the virus that have led some to skip the Games" (AP, 7/13). Golfer Justin Rose, who will play in Rio, said the withdrawal by several top players, including Jordan Spieth and Rory McIlroy, is "obviously disappointing." Rose: "But I totally respect and understand their perspective and their decision, and it obviously comes down to personal reasons and that you have to respect." In N.Y., Bill Pennington notes Rose in his comments "tried to give McIlroy the benefit of the doubt" after McIlroy yesterday appeared to question golf's place in the Olympics. Rose: "Hopefully, slip of the tongue, you know what I mean? One of those moments" (N.Y. TIMES, 7/14).
GOLFERS HAVE SPOKEN: USA TODAY's Christine Brennan writes, "Get rid of this game as fast as you can, at least the men's portion of it. ... Every top female golfer is going to Rio. ... Interesting, isn't it, that the world's top male golfers are the Zika worrywarts, while the world's top women golfers are the dauntless ones?" (USA TODAY, 7/14). In Philadelphia, Bob Ford notes the world's top golfers "did not vote to add their sport to the Olympic program, so perhaps their lack of interest shouldn't be held against them." Golf "doesn't belong" in the Olympics, and "if there was any doubt, the golfers are making it clear" (PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 7/14). But in California, Larry Bohannan notes most of the critics "are hoping against hope that the golfers will embrace the Olympics as much as the critics do." But that was "always going to be a hard sell for PGA Tour players." Bohannan: "We have been asking these golfers to embrace a tradition in the game that has never existed in their lifetime. ... We are trying to create the same kind of Olympic tradition and excitement that exists in other sports, but those sports have been around the Olympics for decades" (Palm Springs DESERT SUN, 7/14).
OPPORTUNITY FOR THE WOMEN? VICE SPORTS' Anya Alvarez noted for many LPGA players, the Olympics represent "more than just a chance to represent their country." They "feel a sense of obligation to help the tour grow, to get more people interested in golf -- and in women's golf, in particular." South African Paula Reto said, "The women are more into promoting golf and getting more attention so that in the future we can have purses as high as the men. We do it for the greater good of the game. Playing in the Olympics could possibly be an opportunity to promote women's golf worldwide" (SPORTS.VICE.com, 7/13). The GLOBE & MAIL's Cathal Kelly notes most of the top women "will be in Brazil," and it is "not that they're more patriotic" than the men. It is because the LPGA "agreed to take a hiatus during the Olympics" while the PGA Tour will not (GLOBE & MAIL, 7/14).
