A playoff like the way Rickie Fowler won The Players Championship?
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The other mystery is golf itself. I’ve included the country for each of my picks on the following slides, but the event is not a team format in any way and will be each player for himself.
“Walking into the Maracana Stadium in Brazil, there were 105,000 people all cheering and celebrating, all different nations with such a happy vibe in there, it was something I really wanted to make sure I was down here in Brazil for”. As money on the tour got larger, the players began being less interested in playing for a medal.
Golf has returned to the Olympics after a 112-year absence and the Englishman is relishing his new, different experience. You just don’t know where this game is going to lead and where they will be in four years’ time or eight years’ time or whether golf will be in the Olympics in eight years’ time.
“As a kid, I could dream about being an Olympian like Jesse Owens or Johnny Weissmuller”. Now it is but one of 39 sports or disciplines, many of them with a much greater tradition in the Olympics. “Anybody who gets to the top of their sport is worthy of their spot at the Olympics. You certainly hope if it’s not yourself, it’s one of your teammates”.
Rose’s wife Kate was a leading European artistic gymnast but her event was denied the Games recognition that would have allowed her the chance to satisfy her sporting ambitions. Other reasons were the Americanization of golf with the beginnings of playing for big prize money.
“I would never have heard the last of it”, he smiled. “After this year’s event I think it’s going to be a big success”. “And they are going to live with that decision”.
“It would be interesting about the athletes who turned down coming here this time”. They make it look so easy, too.
“And it’s up to us guys who are here to evaluate it and go back and spread the word, assuming it’s a great success”.
RIO DE JANEIRO Golfers and gymnasiums do not always mix, but British Open champion Henrik Stenson has been pumping iron in the Olympic village in preparation for his opening round on Thursday.
Judoka Rafaela Silva, who grew up in Rio’s notorious Cidade de Deus favela, burst into tears on Monday as she held up her medal to a roaring crowd as the Brazilian national anthem played. Despite the withdrawals, there are still six major champions and seven of the world’s top 15 players teeing off in Rio.
The four Americans, of course, raise the Q-factor of an Olympic tournament that needs star appeal, but the more telling story is their unqualified endorsement of Rio and everything it represents. Every major golf organization lobbied for its return, pledging support from the best players in the world.
“I think that’s the nature of the golf”, Kuchar said.
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“I was in the gym on Sunday evening and if you want to get motivated that is definitely the place to be”, Stenson said after his practice on a rain-hit Wednesday.
