Top women’s golf stars seek gold after 116-year wait
WOMEN’s golf returns to the Olympics after 116 years on Wednesday with every top star in the Rio field and anticipation of a unique showdown unlike any major championship.
“It doesn’t feel like a major at all,” seventh-ranked US veteran Stacy Lewis said. “It feels like the Olympics. “This is an extremely important week for us. This is a great stage. It’s beyond anything we could do as a tour. All the best players in the world are here. To be part of this is a big deal.”
The men’s tournament will be a tough act to follow, with Justin Rose outdueling Henrik Stenson for gold in a last- round duel of major winners decided on the last hole.
But the men lacked more than 20 top stars, including the world’s four top players, and that had raised doubts for golf’s Olympic future until the last-day drama.
“It takes a little pressure off about golf being in the Olympics down the road,” Lewis said.
“We were going to put on a great show anyway.”
American Margaret Abbott won the nine-hole women’s event from a field of 10 in 1900 at Paris. Now a global lineup of 60 seeks gold.
“If I wind up holding a medal that’s going to be special,” New Zealand’s 19-year-old world number one Lydia Ko said.
World number two Ariya Jutanugarn, 20, became the first Thai major winner by capturing last month’s Women’s British Open. People in her homeland hailed her breakthrough triumph, perhaps only a hint of bigger prizes to come this week.
“They are really proud, not only of me but to know that a Thai can win at a major tournament.”
Canada’s third-ranked Brooke Henderson, 18, won the Women’s PGA Championship in June and hopes to keep a gold in Canadian hands after compatriot George Lyon won the 1904 men’s crown at St. Louis, the last Games golf until last week. — AFP