Finchem To Pursue Adding Golf To Olympics Roster By 2016
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Finchem Seeking To Have Golf
Added To Olympic Roster By 2016 |
PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem yesterday wrote on his blog at PGATOUR.com that while there "remain questions to be answered and issues to be resolved, I believe the time is now right to move forward" to pursue golf as an Olympic sport. The LPGA and the European Tour previously have "indicated their support" for the sport to join the Olympics, and the R&A, the USGA and the PGA of America are "evaluating the possibility of Olympic golf." Finchem: "I see two very positive developments coming from including golf as an Olympic sport. One would be a significant boost to the popularity and perception of the game all around the world. ... The other major benefit is that it would further help bring the world of golf together to work on this major initiative." Finchem noted a "schedule of tournaments that will allow the world's top players to compete in the Olympic Games" first needs to be developed. While the earliest golf could be included in the Olympic program is 2016, Finchem wrote he is "excited about the opportunities golf in the Olympics presents" for the sport. Finchem: "I am hopeful we can overcome the challenges we face, and I look forward to further discussions with our Policy Board, Player Advisory Council and membership and taking a leadership role, along with the organizations represented on the Board of the World Golf Foundation, in making golf in the Olympics a reality" (PGATOUR.com, 4/15).
GLOBAL CONQUEST: Finchem noted part of the push for golf in the Olympics is "to appeal to global markets such as India and China." In Orlando, Jeremy Fowler writes, "Maybe the Tour could talk to the LPGA about those 40-plus Korean players who have been competing well in the LPGA's tournaments in recent years" (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 4/16). In San Antonio, Richard Oliver wrote the LPGA includes 120 active foreign golfers, representing 26 different countries, and women's golf, "as a result, is unquestionably better." Oliver: "But the evidence of it isn't clear yet. American sports fans continue to be, well, stubbornly quiet" (SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS, 4/14).
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