COMMUNITY

Let's call a spade a spade. This was a very successful week for golf. For how critical and doubtful many of us were (including me) about golf in the Olympics when the biggest names were dropping out, Rio looking like a disaster of a host city, and doubts about the competition itself, it all worked out. We got a very exciting competition on a fun, beautiful golf course with 3 of the best players in the field winning the medals. Had this been the Olympics where it was London or Tokyo getting to host the Games, I think it would have been an absolute success. Instead, this was simply a success, in my estimation. The galleries in Rio didn't really get proper etiquette, but how could they be expected to when golf isn't a popular sport in Brazil that lives up to the upper class stereotype in that country.

I love the individual format and shun anyone who says it should have been a team event because golf is an individual sport first. Every tournament during the Tour season is individual except for one a year, whether it's the Ryder Cup or President's Cup. I'd be willing to give match play a try, especially seeing as how good of a duel Rose and Stenson was, however, doing that would eliminate the excitement of someone like Kuchar doing what he did and posting a number the leaders had to look at.

All in all, golf is an Olympic sport, and I say that with my bias removed. It was cool, and I'll be very disappointed if the IOC doesn't keep it around when they vote on its future between now and 2020. I'm already looking forward to seeing what happens in Japan in 4 years time. As for the women, they have the opportunity to make it even more of a successful venture. I don't think anything could happen during their competition to hurt golf's place in the Olympics.