Australian Olympic golf captain Ian Baker-Finch has implored officials to change the format to a team competition in 2020 to help reduce the number of high-profile withdrawals.
Baker-Finch will be without Adam Scott in Rio this year, the world No.7 pulling out, citing a busy playing schedule and ‘other commitments, both personal and professional’.
The format, potentially adding to his young family and the Zika virus threat are believed to among his concerns.
South Africans Louis Oosthuizen and Charl Schwartzel and Fiji’s Vijay Singh have also opted out.
While understanding Scott’s decision, the former British Open champion believes his choice might have been different had the event format been team based – not individual.
Each country is allowed no more than two players until the field for Rio reaches its limit of 60 with the exception of being allowed up to four players if they are ranked in the world’s top 15 by July 11.
They will play in four-round strokeplay for gold, silver and bronze.
“Everyone is saying Adam’s decision weakens the team and all of the negatives but, while we are sending a team to represent Australia, it is an individual event,” Baker-Finch told AAP.
“I don’t think people realise that Adam is not letting anyone down. It’s his decision and he’s entitled to make it. I am disappointed he won’t be with us but I totally understand his position.”
Baker-Finch has passed on his thoughts to the International Golf Federation.
While Gary Player and others fear the pullouts will affect the vote to keep the sport in the Games past 2020, Baker-Finch hopes it will just make them heed format change calls.
“I think it will make them think about making it a team competition. I’d even love to see it as a mixed team even – that would be awesome.”
Player and Jack Nicklaus have disapproved of Scott’s decision, while others have defended him.
“People that are not excited to play at the Olympics have just been spoilt. They’ve been spoilt rotten,” Player said recently at the Masters.
“You should be honoured to represent your country and … to have the opportunity.”
But world No.1 Day has backed Scott.
“It hasn’t been in the Olympics for 112 years so, for us, your career is pretty much based on how many majors you win and how many tournaments you win.
“For me personally, I’m looking forward to the challenge of trying to win a medal … it would be really, really fantastic honour to be able to win a gold medal or any medal at the Olympics.”
Johnno
Guest
Yes and no. Tennis doesn't have a team format at the Olympics,and often it runs along similar lines to golf. Then some will say this devalues the Ryder Cup, or what's that other one the President's cup. But it might work for golf. Problem with all modern pro sports now, is the Olympics is starting to feel a bit mickey mouse losing it's meaning in many sports. Soccer under-23's is a joke as well if you ask me despite it rating well. Under-23's tournament plus adding 3 senior players it all feels silly, like what da? By under 23 some players have played in 2 world cups. Soccer has a youth world cup, under 20's, it doesn't need a pseudo half youth half adult defecto world cup that the Olympic under 23's is. Basketball world cup will have 32-teams in 2019, Olympics only 12 teams go, so many of the best teams in Europe miss out on spots as there allocated to weaker african nations. Every which way I turn Golf at the Olympics feels weird, but then again in might turn into the 5th slam that Tennis has unofficially made the Olympics become. Roger Federer never won Olympic singles gold medal, but that hasn't diminished his tennis greatness. I'd say keep it single, teams seems a bit silly in my view. Boxing and Tennis don't have a team gold medal comp. Tennis is doubles but it's not part of davis cup style format. Bad idea group Golf format, can it.