Golf in the 2016 Olympics?

A great idea.

I am not sure what circumstances prevented this truly worldwide game from being an Olympic sport since 1904, but it needs to be back in the mix.

As I have heard today while watching coverage of the PGA Championship (Tiger is playing well...watch out), golf has made the necessary strides to be up for a vote in October for inclusion to the 2016 games. There is one reason I can think of that would make this date extremely important:

Tiger Woods.

Tiger will be 40 years old when these Olympics roll around. He is the main driving force behind getting golf in the Olympics and getting him to play while he is still at the height of his game is key to drive interest. The way he keeps in shape, he could play well into his 40's, but there is also the fact that he has had multiple knee surgeries and is only 33 now. He could very well develop arthritis in his knees and be on his way out before we know it. As much as I hate to think that, it could be the case. All the more reason to get him out there sooner than later with the best in the world on Sport's grandest stage.

The idea of having one tournament in which you play for your country every four years should add some terrific drama not only to the Olympics, but the game of golf. The Ryder Cup is a terrific event held every two years, but it involves only the U.S. and Europe. In the years they don't have that it is the President's Cup that pits the U.S. versus the World. However, both are team competitions, which makes them unique and intense in their own right, but not like a worldwide tournament held every four years for a Gold Medal. This could truly be a fifth major, yet the most coveted in that you only get an opportunity to win it every four years. The possibilities are truly endless when it comes to the hype, importance, and exposure for this event. Now the IOC just has to vote this thing through.

As much as I hate the idea of taking baseball and to a lesser extent, softball out of the games, I could understand why they were removed. While each is growing in global participation, they are still far from being worldwide sports. Golf is already worldwide.

One of the ideas I heard today was that they would take the Top 15 players in the world and after that they would take no more than two players from each country to fill remaining spots. With that system, if it were to be used today, over 30 countries would be represented in the Olympic Tournament. Golf is truly a worldwide game that is covered across six continents.

In addition to this I heard Jim Gray (who I am not a fan of BTW) speak to the effect that the 1992 Dream Team had not only on the Olympics, but International Basketball as a whole along with the NBA. Look at NBA rosters now as compared to 1992. The foreign influence has been dramatic, and the game has grown worldwide. Going back to '92, who was the most recognizable athlete in the world? Michael Jordan, who was at the forefront of the Dream Team.

Fast forward to today. Who is the most recognizable athlete in the world? Tiger Woods. Put him at the forefront of what could be a fantastic event and watch golf explode even more.

I can't wait to see it.