Golf, an Olympic Game: The return to the authentic values of sport.

Golf, a sport rich in history, made its return to the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro 2016 after a 112-year absence. This comeback was a milestone in the history of the Games, marking a moment of great significance.

Golf made its Olympic debut at the 1900 Paris Games and remained in the program until the 1904 St. Louis Games. At that time, the sport was still in a phase of consolidation, and although exhibition tournaments were held, only two Olympic editions featured an official competition.

However, after those Games, golf disappeared from the Olympic program, due in part to a lack of global interest and the difficulty of attracting the world's best players. For over a century, golf was relegated to Olympic history while other sports gained prominence in the biggest sporting event.

The return of golf to the Olympic Games was neither quick nor easy. The idea of reintroducing golf into the Olympics began to gain momentum in the early 21st century, driven by the growing globalisation of the sport and the desire to expand the Olympic audience. One of the earliest and most influential proponents of this idea was undoubtedly Seve.

During the 1990s, Seve Ballesteros became a passionate promoter for golf’s return to the Olympic program. I know he would have liked to play for his country in the Games, but unfortunately, he never saw golf re-enter the Olympic program.He firmly believed that golf deserved a place in the Olympics, not only because of its growing global popularity but also because of the positive impact it could have in inspiring new generations of golfers. Seve worked tirelessly to promote this idea, using his influence in the golf world to garner support from other players, federations, and sports organisations.

In recognition of his efforts and contributions to the sport, Seve was awarded the Olympic Order at the end of the 90’s, the highest honor granted by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), and presented by its president at that time, Juan Antonio Samaranch. This award, which acknowledges individuals and organisations for their outstanding contributions to the Olympic Movement, was a tribute to Seve’s vision of seeing golf in the Olympics and his dedication to making that dream a reality. In fact, unless I'm mistaken, Seve was the first golfer to receive this recognition, which was later awarded to Jack Nicklaus in 2015.

Golf is a sport with a rich tradition of annual tournaments, such as the four majors. These tournaments are the most prestigious in the golf calendar and, for decades, have been considered the pinnacle of a golfer's career. However, the inclusion of golf in the Olympic Games adds a new level of prestige.

The inclusion of golf in the Olympic Games represents a return to the authentic values of sport, where pure competition and the spirit of personal achievement prevail over the influences of money and commercialism. In a world where many sports have been "infected" by financial interests, the Olympic Games offer golf a unique platform to celebrate sporting excellence in its purest form, honoring the commitment, integrity, and effort of the athletes, far from economic distractions and adding a special value by being held only every four years.

The Olympic competition, held every four years, offers players the opportunity to represent their countries on the world's largest sporting stage. Unlike traditional tournaments, where golfers primarily compete as individuals, the Olympic Games place a strong emphasis on national pride and camaraderie. Winning an Olympic medal not only means being the best in your sport; it means being the best in your sport while representing your country.

Despite the positive impact of golf's return to the Olympic Games, I believe that a different format could have been more attractive. Currently, the Olympic tournament is played in a 72-hole stroke play format, the same used in most professional tournaments. However, this may not be the most engaging for the Olympic Games.

The match play format, where players compete directly against each other in one-on-one matchups, in a series of eliminations, has traditionally been considered more exciting for both players and fans. This format, offers a more intense, thrilling competition that is also easier to follow for the non-golf enthusiast.

Moreover, the absence of a team component is notable. Given the Olympic spirit of representing the nation, it would be natural for golf to include medals for national teams, in addition to individual ones. A format where golfers competed for medals both individually and as teams would add an additional excitement.

I believe that despite golf’s return to the Olympic Games after more than 100 years, a format reform could further elevate the attention on golf and contribute even more to the growth of the sport.