The IOC in July '17 will "make the decision if golf stays" in the Olympic program for the '24 Games, so next year's Rio Games marks the "one time to get it right," according to Golf Channel's Rex Hoggard. NBC's Mark Rolfing said the "single most important thing is to get buy-in from the players." Rolfing: "If the players make it important, then it will be important to us and then it will be important to the fans.” Former Int'l Society of Olympic History President Bill Mallon said he hopes male players "will embrace" Olympic golf, though he added it "may take a little time." He said, "The program is reviewed after every Olympics, and if the best players decide not to play ... the IOC would take a very dim view of that.” Mallon believes the Olympic tournament will be "more embraced by the women, because I think they can stand the publicity, and also, women's golf is even more international." Golfer Cristie Kerr, who currently would be part of the U.S. team, called it a "huge opportunity for ladies’ golf." Kerr: "We're a global tour as it is, the LPGA tour, but we can't reach as many eyeballs as the Olympic TV coverage. And to be able to inspire that many more girls to play golf around the world, I think, is just such a huge opportunity for us." Golfer Henrik Stenson, who hopes to represent Sweden in the '16 Games, said, "It's been good for the game of golf worldwide. We've seen a lot more support in some emerging markets around the world for golf, and with it being an Olympic sport, that really makes a difference in a lot of places” (“Morning Drive,” Golf Channel, 8/5).
