Seven of the top 10-ranked golfers in the world will play in a new matchplay event in
Turkey, "which will attempt to establish the country as an Olympic
destination," according to James Corrigan of the London TELEGRAPH. The
$5.3M Turkish Airways World Golf Finals will be held "nine days after
the Ryder Cup." Golfers expected to compete are Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy, Lee Westwood, Luke Donald, Hunter Mahan, Justin
Rose, Charl Schwartzel and Webb Simpson, among others. Next year's event intends to
offer "the richest first prize in golf -- a mooted $2.5M." It is
"understood that as part of a three-year commitment Woods has forged a
lucrative 'relationship' with the country's national airline." This
unauthorized event has been "received negatively" by both the PGA Tour
and the European PGA Tour. However, it will take place from Tuesday to
Friday, so the weekend coverage of the Portuguese Masters and the
Frys.com Open "will not be overshadowed." As Turkey bids for the 2020
Games, the country "is determined to prove its ability to host big
sporting occasions" (TELEGRAPH, 7/3).
Golf Channel’s Rex Hoggard said the tournament “won't hurt” the
country’s bid to host the Olympics. Hoggard: “If they're interested in
the Olympics -- and obviously golf will be part of the Olympics going
forward -- I think it's a good way to sort of gauge the golf
temperature. I went to Abu Dhabi earlier this year for Tiger Woods, not a
lot of interest. I mean, you don’t get the buzz you get here.” Golf
Channel’s Gary Williams said the event “can't hurt, but if anybody knows
the mindset of people who make the decisions on awarding the Olympics,
this is not the Olympics being decided by an event that's a one-off in
2016 in the game of golf." Williams said of the IOC, "This is an
organization, an event that has -- let’s be honest -- been ripe with
corruption in terms of trying to buy bids. So I have no earthly idea if
golf is going to have any influence Turkey getting the Olympics in 2020”
(“Morning Drive,” Golf Channel, 7/3).
