Qualifying for the Olympics

[TMO]

Before I get people going, "You are not going to qualify for the U.S. team," I am just curious how people think they are going to do qualifying for the Olympics should golf become an Olympic sport. I would imagine that it will be a Dream Team like selection by some committee but I just thought it would be cool if they did some kind of "qualifying" like the Ryder Cup or President's cup. Thoughts?


And yes, I do think it would be amazing to play golf in the Olympics. No, I am not delusional enough to believe that I have enough time to devote to doing something like that.

[Shindig]

I think they already announced that they're going to use OWGR for the spots.

[Chilli Dipper]

First of all, I'm not sold on the format being floated out to the IOC and the various golf sanctioning bodies. A 72-hole, 60-player stroke play tournament? That's not a uniquely Olympic event, but the equivalent of an additional WGC tournament played every fourth year. Additionally, there isn't a doubles or team event being discussed, at least not publicly. I want to see two events:

1. A 32-player match play tournament, with the top 16 players in the Official World Golf Rankings or Rolex Rankings guaranteed entry plus the highest-ranked players from 16 nations not already represented. Using current OWGR points, the men's field would theoretically include:

   Tiger Woods (USA) vs. Liang Wen-Chong (CHN)
   Phil Mickelson (USA) vs. Markus Brier (AUT)
   Paul Casey (GBR) vs. Robert-Jan Derksen (NED)
   Kenny Perry (USA) vs. Lin Wen-Tang (TPE)
   Steve Stricker (USA) vs. David Smail (NZL)
   Sergio Garcia (ESP) vs. Thomas Levet (FRA)
   Henrik Stenson (SWE) vs. Francesco Molinari (ITA)
   Geoff Ogilvy (AUS) vs. K.J. Choi (KOR)
   Stewart Cink (USA) vs. Stephen Ames (TRI)
   Padraig Harrington (IRL) vs. Thongchai Jaidee (THA)
   Jim Furyk (USA) vs. Shingo Katayama (JPN)
   Vijay Singh (FIJ) vs. Jeev Milkha Singh (IND)
   Lee Westwood (GBR) vs. Soren Kjeldsen (DEN)
   Martin Kaymer (GER) vs. Mike Weir (CAN)
   Camilo Villegas (COL) vs. Angel Cabrera (ARG)
   Anthony Kim (USA) vs. Retief Goosen (RSA)

2. A 36-hole alternate-shot doubles stroke play tournament competed by teams from 30 nations: a nation's highest-ranked player, and a teammate of his or her choice from that same country.

[microcrayfish]

They mentioned on the news here this evening that the top 15 or 16 in the world rankings automatically qualify and after that it's done by world ranking with a maximum of two golfers per country.

So if there's 6 Americans in the top 15 they all qualify, but if there are 2 Aussies in the top 15 and the next one is at 17 he misses out, even though two players from another country who are both ranked lower in the OWGR get in.

Not sure if I'm completely sold on the system but it should at least make sure that a good number of top players in the world are playing while still allowing a decent number of countries to be represented also. There was always going to be a compromise between having the best golfers and having enough countries represented and I guess this is the best they could come up with.

[TMO]

I think they already announced that they're going to use OWGR for the spots.

Well that sucks. Guess I can't just go play four really good days of golf in a qualifier then. Too bad :)

[DJYoshi]

Well that sucks. Guess I can't just go play four really good days of golf in a qualifier then. Too bad :)

you're a +3. think about it this way. at a +3. the olympics are in 7 years. I bet you could go to Q SChool in a year or 2...hopefully make the tour..and you never know

[pinhigh27]

you're a +3. think about it this way. at a +3. the olympics are in 7 years. I bet you could go to Q SChool in a year or 2...hopefully make the tour..and you never know

Completely agree!

[Range King]

Olympic Competitions are so much better, if played as a team event.

I am pretty sure there will be a regular stroke play tournament, but I really hope there will be some kind of team - matchplay event.

[whetstone]

I wonder what kind of scores we could see if they played a 4 person scramble!

[bogeyhitter25]

You are not going to qualify for the U.S. team.












Sorry I had to do it.

[senorchipotle]

I say have a two man scramble. best two from each country play in a round robin type match play event. if there's a tie, fewest strokes wins.

[mcfc_nick]

i say they play bingo bango bongo

[schutz23]

You don't qualify for the olympics. Its based off of the world golf rankings. This is how they will get ideas for the teams. the IOC is still discussing logistics and is not final on a decision yet. Don't get you hopes up just yet.