RP golf association welcomes IOC decision

Finally, the long wait is over. Golf, along with rugby sevens, got the nod of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) membership 121st Session to be part of the 2016 Olympic Program in Rio de Janeiro signaling a grand return of the sport after an absence of more than a century in the most-awaited worldwide spectacle.

Golf and rugby sevens were recommended for the Olympic Program by the IOC Executive Board in August following an extensive review process involving seven sports that were vying to be added to the 2016 Olympic Games. Although they emerged as the finalists, both sports still required final approval Sunday by a majority of votes cast by the IOC members. The United States of America, particularly in St. Louis, Missouri, last hosted golf as an Olympic sport in 1904 when the US and Canada were the only two competing countries. “We are elated that the IOC membership has accepted golf as an Olympic sport, and look forward to seeing the world’s best golfers compete for gold at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro," said Ty Votaw, Executive Director of the International Golf Federation (IGF) Olympic Committee, which has coordinated golf’s Olympic bid. “We thank the IOC for its support, and also congratulate rugby sevens for its inclusion in the 2016 Games," he added. In reaction to this breakthrough, the National Golf Association of the Philippines (NGAP), the country’s national body for golf, welcomed golf’s inclusion in the Games, which is held every four years. “This should have been done a long time ago. Now, we have another avenue to showcase the Filipino talent. I believe we have enough good players for the Olympics," said NGAP president and Transportation Secretary Leandro Mendoza, in a text message to NGAP director Pablo Soon. Votaw and Peter Dawson, chief executive of The R&A and joint secretary of the International Golf Federation, were accompanied by professionals Padraig Harrington of Ireland, Michelle Wie of the United States and Suzann Pettersen of Norway, as well as 16-year-old (British) Amateur Champion Matteo Manassero of Italy, for a final presentation to the IOC prior to the vote. Based on player feedback, the IGF has proposed a format of 72-hole individual stroke play for both men and women. In case of a tie for either first, second or third place, a three-hole playoff is recommended to determine the medal winner(s). The IGF also has recommended an Olympic field of 60 players for each of the men's and women's competition, using the Official World Golf Rankings as a method of determining eligibility. The top-15 world-ranked players would be eligible for the Olympics, regardless of the number of players from a given country. Beyond the top-15, players would be eligible based on the world rankings, with a maximum of two eligible players from each country that does not already have two or more players among the top-15. Pagunsan, Que gets into list Current world rankings from both the men’s and women’s games show that at least 30 countries would be represented in both the men’s and women’s competitions, from all continents, under this proposal. Taking those qualifications, a total of 33 countries, led by American Tiger Woods, plus the Philippines’ Juvic Pagunsan and Angelo Que will be included in the unofficial shortlist of eligible players based on current world rankings. “It will be an honor for me if I could play in the Olympics. It will be a dream come true," said both Pagunsan, the 2006 Asian Tour top rookie, and Que, the reigning RP Open champion, to GMANews.TV. – Adrian Flores, GMANews.TV