The return of golf to the Games program is so far justified.
Golf was returned to the Olympics program relatively recently-the first time medals were played in Rio de Janeiro after more than a century’s hiatus. It seems that the decision was right: the number of tops going to compete at the Games in Tokyo has not decreased, as it happened in tennis. The published list of participants in the men’s tournament includes many world stars.
The top players at the Olympics will be
True, there are rejections, too. Sergio Garcia, Martin Kaymer, Louis Osthuizen and Dustin Johnson are all leaders in the sport, but are not going to the Olympics. Garcia, a competitor from Spain, wrote on social media that he preferred another tournament to the Olympics. The athlete performed in Rio and finished eighth there:
This is one of the hardest decisions of my life. I love the Olympics, but my first priority is to represent Spain on the international stage in the Ryder Cup. My number one goal is to make myself known on the European team without waiting for promising invitations. Representing Spain in the Olympics is an honor and a huge responsibility.
Colin Morikawa, the PGA (Professional Golfers’ Association) winner, feels differently – he’s happy to be playing in the Olympics. Maybe it’s the age difference – the “refuseniks” are, on average, 10 years older than those who go to the Olympics. Maybe the fact that the players belong to different generations played a role here: the latter are more mobile and can adapt to new competitions.
I am going. I’m so excited. It’s going to be one of the best things in my life,” Morikawa said after finishing fourth at the U.S. Open last Sunday. – If you think back to when I was an amateur two years ago, literally two years ago, the fact that I’m going to be on this team and going to Tokyo makes me smile.
Some athletes from the top 50 of the PGA rankings decided not to go to the Olympics, but they were replaced by other players of roughly the same level. In total, 60 people will take part in the tournament in Tokyo – the world top 15 with a maximum of four representatives from one country. The rest will be selected by a similar system, but one country will be able to field two players each (if it has no athletes in the top 15).
Interestingly, the Rio Olympics medalists in Japan will not participate – winner Justin Rose, silver medalist Henrik Stenson and bronze medalist Matt Kuchar did not qualify for the Olympics.
Tokyo Olympian Collin Morikawa competed only in amateur events until 2019, playing for his university team in California. Now he’s qualified for the Olympics – it only took a couple of years. Anything is possible in golf.
