The Olympics and Amateur Golf
With the London Olympics still fresh in our minds, we naturally look forward to the Rio Olympics of 2016 and the return of golf to the games after a century hiatus. But, instead of offering a crowning lifetime achievement opportunity of “Olympic proportions” to amateurs from the widest spectrum of countries around the globe, it will be just another major in an already busy schedule for many of the top professional golfers on the various world tours. While the Olympics have included professional athletes to varying degrees for quite some time, it is up to the governing entities of each sport to define its selection criteria, which, in the case of re-introducing golf in 2016, has effectively excluded amateurs.
The 60-player Olympic field of golf competitors each for men and women is proposed to be drawn from the top of the World Rankings, with the top 15 qualifying, then continuing down the rankings with a limit of two players from any one country (or four, including those in the top 15), until the remaining 45 positions are filled. Extrapolating from the Official World Golf Rankings as of July 29, 2012, About.com forecasted that Ricardo Santos would have
been the lone Portuguese competitor had golf been included in the 2012 Olympics. Similarly, countries such as Colombia and Fiji would also have had just one competitor each, the already world-famous, top earning, product-endorsing Camilo Villegas and Vijay Singh, respectively.
Successful Portuguese golfers will inspire the development of more golf talent in Portugal, regardless of whether or not they are at the top of the professional world ranking . With this Interest in mind, the WGTF of Portugal applauds and recognizes Ricardo Melo Gouveia and Pedro Figueiredo, two Portuguese amateurs, who presently rank #78 and #36 respectively In the World Amateur Rankings as published by ScratchPlayers.org. Both have enviable golf resumes, have been accomplished players on the Portuguese National Team and now on their college
teams (University of Central Florida and UCLA, respectively), and both competed in the 112th US Amateur held in Colorado. Melo Gouveia made the cut, finishing 1-under, and Figueiredo finished 6-over.
Without the Olympics to aspire to, the US Amateur continues to be one of the most elite championships in amateur golf with its opportunity for recognition. But, does it create celebrity status to the extent that an Olympic appearance would? With the right exposure, top amateur athletes like our “Richy” and “Figgy,” both 21, have the charisma and talent to inspire the youth of Portugal, just as their counterparts from so many other countries do. The Olympics are the very tool needed to provide the fame that can turn top amateurs into golf heroes, and result in an explosion of momentum and endorsements to youth golf internationally. The irony is that advertisers need already-famous athletes to attract sufficient viewers to watch Olympic golf.
The WGTF of Portugal is proud to spotlight Richy and Figgy to the national and international audience of Golf Teaching Pro magazine. By giving exposure to the accomplishments of our fellow countrymen, we can contribute to the momentum of youth golf in our homelands.
