As the Beijing Olympics begin, the debate over whether or not golf should return to the event continues. Golf hasn’t been an official event at the games since 1904 but there are calls in certain quarters for it to return.
Some of the biggest names in the sport have been having their say on the matter. Colin Montgomery has spoken in favour of the proposals, but like many of his professional colleagues has insisted that it should be for amateurs alone. Speaking to Sky Sports News, he commented:
"I would take the best two amateurs from Britain and let them play the best two amateurs from France, Germany...all sorts"
"Professional sports at the Olympic Games does not work with me. The tennis...that just has never worked for me at all and neither has the basketball.”
The proposals were also met with approval by Phil Mickelson who said:
“I think having golf as an Olympic port is exponentially more important to the game of golf than the masters.”
He continued:
“It would bring in 168 different countries and their Olympic foundation, and all those revenues would be going toward the game of golf.”
By contrast, reigning Masters Champion Trevor Immelman has expressed his opinion that golf has no place at the games. Speaking to The Times newspaper in his native South Africa, he said:
“To me the Olympics were founded on amateur sport. Guys go in there and train for four years putting their whole lives on the line to win a gold medal.”
“If I was running the Olympics I would go back to the way it was originally, Gymnastics, weightlifting, swimming and track and field and marathons. That’s to me what the Olympics is.”
Although there are differences of opinion between golfers about whether or not golf has a place in the games, they all appear to be in agreement on one point. If golf is to become an Olympic event, professionals should not be allowed to participate. This is a view which is commonly held throughout the golfing fraternity with fellow pros such as Tiger Woods.
Unfortunately, it is not an opinion which is shared by the IOC (International Olympic Committee) which has insisted that if golf does make a return, it will be for professionals only. With this apparent stalemate, it appears that for the time being at least, golf will not be making a return to the Olympic Games.
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