Olympics get back into the swing as golf makes a comeback

By WILLIAM ZWAR

Golfing fans should not despair. Just because champion Australian player Adam Scott pulled out of the Olympics does not mean there is nothing, or no one, to cheer for in Rio.

Australian World No.1 Jason Day is tearing up the golf scene and is tipped to win gold as the sport returns to the Olympics for the first time for more than a century. The 28-year-old Aussie is favourite going in to this week's US Open.

Scott, the current world No.8 and former No.1, pulled out of the Rio Olympics last month due to a busy playing schedule as well as for personal commitments, including his family.

However Scott’s absence will not leave the competition without anticipation and action. Top players Day, Bubba Watson, Jordan Spieth and Rory McIlroy headline the men’s section, which at this stage only lacks Scott and fellow Australian Marc Leishman.

History

Golf is not new to the Olympics, but it has not featured since the 1904 St Louis Games. Back then, the Glen Echo Golf Club hosted a men’s-only event, featuring athletes from the USA, Canada and Great Britain. Apart from the standard solo match-play competition, athletes also took part in driving, putting contests and a teams’ event.

In 2009, golf was reinstated into the Olympics at the 121^st IOC Session after recommendations suggested the global expansion and rising popularity of the sport justified its inclusion.

Golf in the Olympics

In this year’s Olympics, competitors will play 72 holes, and conclude with a three-hole playoff to determine the first, second and third placegetters.

Players will be granted entry based on world rankings as of July 11, 2016. A total of 60 players will be selected for both the men’s and women’s events.

The top 15 players from each section will automatically qualify with a limit of four players per nation. The remaining 45 places will be distributed to the highest ranked players from countries that do not already have two golfers, with a limit of two per country.

There are no regional qualifications but the International Golf Federation has confirmed that at least one golfer from the host nation, Brazil will qualify. The international regions – Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe and Oceania – are also guaranteed at least one competitor each.

The men will tee off on August 11 and finish on August 14, while the women’s competition will run from August 17 to 20. Both of the competitions will be played at the Rio Olympic Golf Course, Reserva de Marapendi, Barra da Tijuca.

Key players at Rio

MEN
Jordan Spieth, USA: At just 22,  Spieth is one of the younger competitors on the golf circuit. He has already ascended to No.2 in the world rankings. Spieth’s breakthrough win came at the John Deere Classic in July 2013. In 2015 he took out the US Masters, the US Open and the Tour Championship. He also collected his second piece of silverware from the John Deere Classic.

Rory McIlroy, Ireland: McIlroy could be the wildcard of the 2016 Olympic tournament. Currently ranked third in the world, McIlroy’s best year was undoubtedly 2014 when he won both the Open Championship and the PGA Championship. His journey since his breakthrough Major at the US Open in 2011 has been a rollercoaster, with some dire results accompanying his successful highs. If up and firing, McIlroy could be hard to stop.

Gerry "Bubba" Watson,USA:  Watson is one of the few left-handed golfers on the golf circuit. Currently ranked fourth, Watson also has consistency issues. He has only participated in five of the past 10 majors, and might not be on form. But don’t rule him out. His high ranking despite his low participation rate shows that when he plays well, he is very dangerous.

WOMEN
Lydia Ko, New Zealand: Currently ranked No.1 in the world, the 19-year-old is in prime position to take out the gold medal in Rio. There appears to be no stopping Ko, who has won the past two Majors on the LPGA. Last year, the Kiwi became the youngest ever golfer to settle on the number one mantle at the age of 18 years, four months and 20 days.

Inbee Park, South Korea: Park had her most successful year in 2013 when she swept three consecutive Major titles. Park is enjoying some great current form, having placed in the top 10 in her past five Major tournaments, and hoisted the trophies at the 2015 Women’s PGA Championship and the 2015 British Open.

Lexi Thompson, USA: Thompson has spent nine years on the professional circuit after qualifying at age 12 for the 2007 US Open. She was the youngest golfer ever to gain entry to the tournament. Thompson has 10 career wins in professional competitions, including the 2014 ANA Inspiration – her only Major scalp.

Australia’s prospects

Day currently sits atop the world rankings, putting Australia in a favourable position for a gold medal in the men’s competition – or at least in with a chance at a podium finish. While only taking out one Major, the PGA Championship in 2015, Day has performed consistently in Majors over the course of his career, boasting a top-10 finish in 11 of 20 starts since 2010.

Marcus Fraser will likely join Day in the Australian squad, in spite of his ranking of 66 in the world. Fraser has been on the golfing scene for a while, winning his first European Tour competition, the BMW Russian Open in 2003. More recently, he claimed the Maybank Championship Malaysia in February this year.

For the Women, Minji Lee is Australia’s best hope as world No. 12. She became the No.1 ranked amateur golfer in February 2014, a title she held until she turned professional in September 2014. While Lee is still young, she has bright future ahead of her as a professional golfer, highlighted by her two Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) tour victories.

Meanwhile, Australian Karrie Webb is one of the most successful female golfers in history with 41 wins on the LPGA – more than any other active participant. Although she’s ranked 49th, Webb is never a write-off and her experience will be vital to the younger players such as Lee.

Predictions

For the men, Jason Day will do Aussies proud and win a gold medal, although American youngster Jordan Spieth will challenge him all the way to the final pin.

Meanwhile for the women, Lydia Ko will continue her fantastic 2016 and should take out the gold medal and hand New Zealand its first ever women’s golfing golf medal at the Olympics.

@zwar_w