Now for the race to the olympics

Golf is widely acclaimed to be one of the most popular sports in the world for both participation and spectators, but to date it has been omitted as an Olympic sport for more than 100 years.

The last time golf featured in the Olympics was in the St Louis (USA) games in 1904 and has since been left on the sidelines looking in – however, this may be about to change.

I recently read with great interest that Annika Sorenstam and Jack Nicklaus have been appointed by the IGF (International Golf Federation) to represent the global Olympic golf bid. A number of other leading tour professionals, including Tiger Woods, have also fully endorsed the push to make golf an Olympic sport and why not?

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) have been widely criticised over the past 30 or so years for the mass inclusion of commercialised professional sports in the games, such as tennis.

The Olympics have changed immensely over the years. Some say the Olympics should be an amateur event only, some argue not. The motto of the games that truly defines its ethos is citius, altius, fortius (swifter, higher, stronger). With this in mind, how can professionals and a truly global sport such as golf be omitted?

Sport has been continually commercialised over the past 60 years – this is something that will only continue to happen moving forward.

For those of you that believe the Olympics have lost its way due to the inclusion of professional sportsmen and women – is it feasible to then include a sport in to the games, which omits the best in the world due to their personal income and their classification as a professional?

Surely this would work against the motto of “swifter, higher, stronger''. If it is the aim of the Olympics to continually raise the bar, then the best in the world at their sport would surely need to participate regardless of status. Golf and the Olympics is certainly an interesting debate. How for example would you set a world record? What format would you choose?

A team event like the world championship of golf whereby players participate for their country, or an individual matchplay knockout event such as the WGC Accenture World Matchplay Championship? Or both?

Will the Olympics ever become a fifth major? I doubt it but it would certainly seem that golf bodies and players would hold a gold medal in high regard.

The Olympics are steeped in tradition and culture and are a significant contributor to world peace, I for one would be all over the inclusion of golf in to the games.

I believe it would be great for the industry and help promote the sport on a whole new level and to countries which are only beginning to develop the game. Bring it on!