Wayne feels for both sides on the debate over Rio Olympics
THE Olympic Games has been one of the hottest topics around Royal Troon.
Golf’s return to the fold after a 112-year absence was supposed to be the ideal opportunity to grow the game.
But that is being seriously undermined by the withdrawal of so many of the sport’s leading players.
Only last week, leading Americans Dustin Johnson and Jordan Spieth pulled out over concerns about the Zika virus, joining Jason Day and Rory McIlroy and ensuring that none of the world’s top four players will be in Rio next month.
While Spieth claimed it was an agonising decision, McIlroy poured fuel on the fire with his comments, insisting he would only be watching the sports “that matter” at the Olympics.
Yet a day later, Justin Rose was expressing his delight about being able to represent Team GB in Brazil.
It is certainly dividing opinion as to whether golf deserves to be an Olympic sport.
Former Australian golfer Wayne Grady can see both sides. From his role as director of the PGA Tour of Australasia, he sees the benefits.
But from his playing days, he knows that the Olympics will never be top of a player’s agenda.
“I have always been of the opinion that we have our four Majors in golf,” says Grady who, along with fellow Aussie Greg Norman, lost in The Open play- off at Troon in 1989 to Mark Calcavecchia.
“If you offered me a Green Jacket or a gold medal, I know which one I would take. But then again, I’m old and crusty!
“When it was first talked about being in the Olympics, I said that Australia didn’t need it.
“But then George O’Grady from the European Tour and Louis Martin, the then chief executive of the Asian Tour, stood up and spoke about the
importance of smaller countries getting funding if golf was in the Olympics.
“Governments would put money into golf and grow the game. From that perspective, it’s very hard to argue against it.
“However, it’s unfortunate the way things have panned out. Somehow I just hope it goes well.”
Australia is known for its proud Olympic traditions and could have sent one of the strongest teams to Rio.
Then Day pulled out over health concerns, whereas Adam Scott stated that the Olympics did not fit in with his schedule.
Instead, the team will consist of journeymen Scott Hend and Marcus Fraser.
Australian swimming legend Dawn Fraser voiced her disapproval at the
golfers’ decisions, but Grady is more sympathetic.
“Scotty is an older player so it doesn’t mean much to him about going to the Olympics,” he states. “I understood when he pulled out because he never had a different opinion.
“Jason was as keen as mustard to play but he’s got two kids and they are planning for more, and it was the same for Marc Leishman.
“It’s a combination of the health situation and security. The players have been turned off by that.
“Maybe if the first one had been somewhere else, it wouldn’t have been an issue. Hopefully, it can turn around for Tokyo in 2020.”