Golf submits proposal for 2016 Olympics
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The International Golf Federation has submitted its propsal for the inclusion of golf in the 2016 Olympics to the International Olympic Committee.
The IGF is has suggested a 72-hole stroke play Olympic tournament for men and women, with 60 players in each field and a three-hole playoff to determine the medalists in the event of a tie.
There had been speculation that any Olympic golf tournament would be for amateurs but the IGF have ptoposed a professional event, with the top 15 players in the world rankings qualifying automatically.
Beyond the top 15, players would be eligible based on world ranking, with a maximum of two available players from each country that does not already have two or more players among the top 15.
Golf organizations have agreed to adjust their summer schedules to ensure that no major championships conflict with the Olympic tournament.
“Never before, in both mind and spirit, have all levels of golf around the world been so united towards a single goal,” the golf bodies said in a letter to the IOC.
Golf is one of seven sports vying for a maximum of two openings at the 2016 Games, along with baseball, softball, rugby sevens, squash, karate and roller sports.
The IOC program commission will evaluate the sports federations’ documents and submit a preliminary report to the executive board in June but the voting procedure for the potential addition of one or two new sports has yet to be finalised.
