It’s almost six months exactly until the world’s best players tee it up in Rio de Janeiro and the prospect for golf fans and players alike is an enthralling one.
By Becky Gee
It’s almost six months exactly until the world’s best players tee it up in Rio de Janeiro and the prospect for golf fans is an enthralling one. Nonetheless, with the Zika virus hitting the headlines and questions being raised about the unsanitary nature of the course’s water, the road to Rio looks like it may be anything but smooth.
When golf was added to the list of sports that were to be contested at Rio de Janeiro, many within the golfing world were far from enthused about the prospect. Now the games seem to be facing much bigger problems. The Zika virus has been hitting the headlines in recent weeks as the mosquito-borne disease spreads its way through South and Central America. Whilst Olympic officials have been quick to ease people’s concerns, the virus, which is associated with birth defects in children, is undoubtedly playing on the minds of athletes and players alike.
Spain’s Azahara Munoz, who recently wed and looks set to compete at the games, has expressed her concerns.
“I have been following [the developments], it’s definitely something that really concerns me, especially being outside for so many hours, and me being only 28-years-old.”
The problems for Rio don’t stop there. Tests have shown that the city's waters, which are infiltrated with sewage and act as a dumping ground for the city’s rubbish, remain heavily polluted despite promises of a clean up. Concerns that the course won’t be built in time have largely petered away despite protests from environmentalists, but questions over the courses suitability remain. The test event, which was scheduled for last year, will take place next month with a mere 10 participants competing.
Despite these problems, 2016 promises to be a golden year for women’s golf. The tournament looks set to be the biggest platform women’s golf has ever known and provides the ideal opportunity to reach new audiences. It seems a shame to me that the organisers have plumped for a 72-hole strokeplay format rather than a matchplay event that offers the potential for more drama. Nonetheless, when the national anthems play out on the 20 August, new golfing heroines and role models shall hopefully have been born.
The Olympics will feature a field of 60 players in both the women’s and men’s competitions based on the world golf rankings. There’s a limit of two players per country who can qualify, unless players are among the top 15 in the world, then the limit is four players per country.
According to the current standings, Charley Hull and Catriona Matthew would wear British colours come August. The nature of the qualification system means that they wouldn’t only tee it up alongside the likes of Lydia Ko and Stacy Lewis, but also Belgium’s Chloe Leurquin at No. 425 in the world, Chile’s Paz Echeverria at No. 430 and Brazil’s Victoria Lovelady at No. 501.
Although it seems a shame that some of the world’s best, particularly from Korea, will miss out on a shot for Olympic glory, these lesser-known players are being gifted an incredible opportunity to showcase their sports in their respective countries.
The hope for the professional game is that unlike sports such as diving or the pentathlon, which tend to rear their head once every four years, only to disappear again until the next Olympic games comes around, golf has the opportunity to turn its exposure into a regular following.
One of the main arguments against golf’s inclusion was that the game simply didn’t need it. The season is set up around four Majors that act as the pinnacle of any golfer’s career and an Olympic outing was merely to prove an inconvenience and distraction for the game’s elite. Potentially this argument could be used to some effect for the men’s game. For the women, however, who still fail to attain the same level of following and endorsements as their male counterparts, the Olympics offers a fantastic opportunity to grow the game.
In Korea there is nothing inconvenient about the Rio games. Each week the national press present the Olympic rankings, indicating who is in and out of the team. The battle for places is indeed fierce. There are eight South Koreans among the top 15 in the Rolex Women’s World Rankings, compared to just three Americans, so jockeying to make the Korean team is already intense. The competition is so high that before Hyo Joo Kim’s triumph at last month’s Pure Silk Bahamas Classic, her world ranking of No. 10 would have failed to earn her a ticket on the plane to Rio.
Although the Olympic inclusion was not met with elation for all, Adam Scott famously commented that he had no aspiration to win a gold medal, the games has become the focus of many South Korean player’s year. Sei Young Kim, when asked by the Golf Channel, declared that she would choose a gold medal over the US Women’s Open title.
“It would be bigger than winning a Major, because this will be first time for us, first Olympics for us in golf.’’ Kim said. ''That’s what makes it so very big. The Olympics is the reason I came over to play the LPGA. I’m trying very hard to make the Olympic team, and the world rankings points you get playing the LPGA are so important.”
Whilst Korea is undoubtedly favourite to win the gold, it could be suggested that it might be better for the growth of the game if they didn't. An Olympic medal for a country where golf is not already incredibly popular could, with the right resources, revolutionise the appeal and participation in that nation. It will be a matter of time before we discover the true impact of the Olympics but one thing's for sure. We can't wait to find out.
Images- Getty
