Golf at 2016 Olympics in Rio: What You Need to Know

After a 112-year absence golf will return to the Olympic games at Rio this Summer. At All Square we have put together a list of questions you may have about the event and are giving you the details of what you need to know.

When was golf last in the Olympics?

 1904 in St Louis. The individual gold was won by George Lyon of Canada and the team gold was won by USA.

How did the return of golf to the games come about?

Ty Votaw, vice –president of the International Golf Federation (IGF), and Peter Dawson, the then president of the IGF and chief executive of the R&A, put forward the argumane that the rapid expansion and globalisation of golf made it a candidate for inclusion in the Summer Games. With the added clout of some stars from the men and women’s game, at the 121^st meeting of the IOC it was decided golf should be reinstated.

How many times has golf appeared in the Olympics?

Golf has only featured in the modern games twice. It made its first appearance in the 1900 games in Paris and appeared only once more in the following 1904 games.

What is the Rio 2016 golf course like?

The Olympic golf course has been built at Reserva de Marapendi in Barra da Tijuca, the district that will contain the largest number of Rio 2016 Olympic Games venues. The purpose-built course was designed by Gil Hanse and his team. The men’s course is 6522m and the women’s is 5944m. There are many water hazards and abundant bunkering to keep the Olympians on their toes. The course was built with the environment in mind.

What is the format of the tournament?

The event will be a 72-hole strokeplay affair as we are all used to. The difference is that there can be no ties for the first three places so play-offs may be required for gold, silver and bronze medals. It is worth noting that the winner of the Olympics will gain exemptions to all four major men’s championships in 2017!

When is it happening?

 At the moment the dates are provisional but the schedule is for the men’s event to be on the 11^th-14^th of August and the women’s on the 17^th-20^th August 2016.

How many players will take part?

The field will consist of 60 players for each of the men’s and women’s tournaments.

How does qualification work?

Qualification for the event is based on world ranking. The top-15 players in the world gain entry with a limit of four players per country being allowed in through these means. Remaining positions will go to the highest ranked players from other nations that do not already have two players. The IGF has guaranteed at least one golfer from the host nation, Brazil, in each event as well as at least one competitor from each continent.

How many nations are likely to take part in the golf events?

Of the 206 nations that will take part in the games, it is thought that around 40 will enter competitors into the golf events.

Do people in Brazil even play golf?

Well in 2014 it was estimated that there were 15,000 golfers in Brazil. This makes Olympic golf both exciting and very important for the development of our sport. This is an incredible opportunity to reach out to an almost untapped audience and get more people playing the best game in the world!

What do the world’s top golfers think about Olympic Golf?

Some of the most notable names that have announced their enthusiasm for this event are Sergio Garcia, Martin Kaymer and Jordan Spieth. The young American has likened Rio 2016 to a fifth major this season. Christina Kim, the Solheim Cup stalwart, has talked about just how important this event could be for the women’s game. This is some great exposure and could really help the sport. Charley Hull, who currently will be representing Team GB, is incredibly excited about the chance to compete for gold at the games.

Are any golfers less in favour of Olympic Golf?

Adam Scott was probably the first big name to pull out describing golf at the games as a ‘scheduling nightmare’. Louis Ootshuizen has declared he won’t be heading to the Olympics for similar reasons to Scotty. Matt Kuchar, the seven-time PGA Tour winner, has questioned its importance over the four major championships that golf already has. Charl Schwartzel has said that the Zika virus outbreak has meant he will not enter the Olympics. Schwartzel has said that his want for a family means he will not risk travelling to Brazil given the current situation. Rory McIlroy is the latest – and biggest name – to pull out of the Olympics as he cited the Zika virus as the biggest reason for not going to Rio later this summer.

Are there any concerns regarding safety in Rio?

Fowler was initially keen on the Rio event, saying it would be “a dream come true” to represent his country at the opening ceremonies. But concerns about safety in Rio have led to some apprehension. Zika, the mosquito-borne virus that has spread across many countries in South and Central America has caused serious concern in Brazil. Furthermore, Brazil’s economy is in a torrid state and in the grip of a serious recession. Another concern are the protests in numerous cities against stadium costs, corruption and the eviction of people from their favela homes.

Rio 2016 official rankings:

Men: www.igfgolf.org/olympic-games/qualification-system/ogr-men

Women: www.igfgolf.org/olympic-games/qualification-system/ogr-women

Watch CNN Living Golf report about the Olympics: http://edition.cnn.com/videos/sports/2016/05/05/living-golf-the-olympics-preview-spc-b.cnn/video/playlists/intl-living-golf/

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