Golf – an Olympic Sport

July 31, 2012 / The Grateful Golfer / 2 Comments

With the 2012 Olympics well on the way, I thought it would be interesting to discuss golf being included in the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It will be first time that South America hosts the games of the XXXI Olympiad and should be extremely exciting.

Golf is going to reappear in the Olympics after 100 years. It is an exciting time for all golfers who have (after much debate with those who do not think that golf is a “real sport”…yes they would be the ones who cannot play or even have the slightest desire to even give it a try, but that is a discussion for another blog) believed that golf should never have been dropped. The PGA Tour Commissionaire Tim Finchem said to Laura hill in 2009 that “This is, I think, a great day for the sport of golf. We are absolutely delighted with the decision by the IOC… ”

Of interest to Canadians, we are the reigning Olympic gold medalists. In 1904, George Lyon won the gold medal in the individual event. Of course we are very proud of this fact and hope to repeat in 2016.

There is still some discussion on how people will qualify for the Olympics. If they use the top 60 world ranked golfers from TSN, as being discussed, Canada would not field a person. As of today the USA has 25 players and 3 other countries have 5 in the top 60. Total, there would be only 13 countries represented. I completely understand that the field needs be limited, but I think a better way to limit the field should be found. My reasoning, why not make it another tournament of PGA golfers and let them figure out who will receive the gold medal. Sometimes, a nobody shows up and exceeds all expectations on their way to gold.

So here is the question of the day – how would you decide the field at the 2016 Olympics?

How Did Ernie Els Win the British Open?

July 23, 2012July 23, 2012 / The Grateful Golfer / 2 Comments

What a fantastic finish to the British Open! I found it quite interesting as I watched Ernie Els coolly play the final 6 holes in heroic fashion. He did not play tight, conservative or out of control. The final putt on the 18th hole was clutch and I was very happy that one of my favorites played well done the stretch. But how did Ernie Els really win the British Open?

Was it that all the players trying to catch Adam Scott did not execute according to their game plan? Did Adam Scott figure he had the tournament all wrapped up on the 14th hole? I would suggest that neither of these situations are the answer. It was greens in regulation that won the tournament.

For the first time in tournament history someone outside the top 20 in putting for the tournament won. This is an amazing stat for sure. Ernie Els was number one in greens in regulation for the tournament, which proved to be the decisive advantage the other players could not match. Many would say, so what? It is only a stat. “Ernie Els is leading the field in greens in regulation, not so much on the greens,” Strange said. “None of the last 11 winners of this tournament have finished outside of the top 20 in total putts. Ernie ranks 75th currently in putts.”

Well let me put it another way; how low would your score be if you were putting for birdie 75% of the time during your round of golf. That means that on 14 holes you are putting to lower your overall score to par! I would take that every round. There are many stats in golf and one could argue that greens in regulation is not as important as say putting; however, Ernie Els proved that maybe it is.

My question to you is what is the most important stat? I would be interested to hear what you have to think!