by Cliff
13. June 2009 00:37
Global Ambassador Annika Sorenstam and 2010 European Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie will join representatives of the International Golf Federation when golf's final case for inclusion in the 2016 Olympic Games will be made to the International Olympic Committee Executive Board on Monday in Lausanne, Switzerland.
Golf last was part of the Olympic Games in 1904, when the United States and Canada were the only competing nations and is one of seven sports being considered for inclusion starting with the 2016 Games. The IOC Executive Committee is expected to recommend two sports for the IOC membership to vote on for the 2016 Olympic Program.
The IGF will propose a format of 72-hole individual stroke play for both men and women, reflecting leading players' opinion that this is the fairest and best way to identify a champion, mirroring the format used in golf's major championships. In case of a tie for either first, second or third place, a three-hole playoff is recommended to determine the medal winner(s).
The IGF will suggest an Olympic field of 60 players for each of the men's and women's competition, utilizing the Official World Golf Rankings as a method of determining eligibility. The top 15 world-ranked players would be eligible for the Olympics, regardless of the number of players from a given country. Beyond the top 15, players would be eligible based on world ranking, with a maximum of two eligible players from each country that does not already have two or more players among the top 15.
Under this proposal, at least 30 countries would be represented in both the men's and women's competitions, from all continents.
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