Olympics will be good for golf, says Monty

Fun and Games: Colin Montgomerie is looking forward to golf returning to the Olympic set-up in 2016

Ryder Cup hero already excited for game’s return to set-up in Rio in 2016

As Team GB continues to rack up the medals in London, Colin Montgomerie has looked ahead to golf’s rejoining the Olympic Games set-up in 2016 and predicted: It is going to huge for the game.

Montgomerie, who led Europe to victory in the 2010 Ryder Cup at Celtic Manor, is a keen follower of most sports, but especially tennis. As such, he was delighted that fellow Scot Andy Murray claimed the gold medal in his match with Roger Federer at Wimbledon yesterday.

That has whetted Montgomerie’s appetite for golf rejoining the Olympic fold in Rio de Janeiro in four years’ time. The sport was featured in the 1900 and 1904 Games before leaving the set-up at the 1908 Games, which were held, ironically enough, in London.

“In terms of the ongoing globalisation of golf, Olympic involvement is going to be huge for the game,” said Montgomerie. “We’ve done our best to do make the game more global in the past few years by expanding into the Asian markets and so on. I think America and Europe have slightly stagnated over the past couple of years but golf is booming in other parts of the world and Olympic inclusion will only help that.”

The prospect of Tiger Woods and Co. sharing accommodation with his fellow athletes and immersing himself in the ‘Team USA’ environment has been scoffed at by many observers. Montgomerie, however, is sure that even the notoriously private Tiger will make an exception for the Olympics.

He said: “How did Roger Federer team, of course he will.”

Golf’s inclusion in the Games has also been met with some opposition from those who insist that, as winning a gold medal would not be the pinnacle of a golfer’s career, as compared with winning a major, then it should not be an Olympic sport, as compared with athletics where a gold is as good it gets.

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Handy Andy: Montgomerie was thrilled to see Dunblane tennis star Andy Murray win Olympic gold

Montgomerie, though, points to tennis as an example of how Olympic gold can very quickly become of massive importance to the players competing for it.

“I think tennis is growing and growing and now that Andy Murray has won the gold medal, I can only see things continuing to improve for that sport. You now know who has won the gold medal in tennis, wheras you didn’t before, so that’s big for the sport and I think golf will be the same. I think the first medal winner in golf for, what is it, 112 years will be known and it will be a great achievement for them. It definitely will. I think we will see it happen that, over the years, winning gold in golf will be up there with the major championships.”

Montgomerie has tried to catch as much of the Games as possible since it kicked-off just over a week ago and, amongst the many successes Team GB has racked up, one in particular stands out for him.

“Andy Murray is, of course, the highlight for me so far, given that he lives just down the road in Dunblane,” said Monty. “Any home gold medal has to be a highlight but Andy’s was great. I haven’t been able to contact him yet. I got home last night and he was playing when I was flying. But I will be in touch with him to personally congratulate him.”

The eight-time European Tour No.1 also had some word’s of praise for the fastest man alive after his stunning victory on the track in London.

“Usain Bolt’s win in the 100m was quite something,” said Monty. “I mean, he didn’t just win; he blew them all away and it was fantastic to see.”

Did you know?

– Only three countries have ever won medals for golf at the Olympic Games up to now? America, Canada and Great Britain. America have ten medals to their credit – three gold, three silver and four bronze – whilst Canada have a solitary gold. Great Britain have one silver and one bronze.

– A total of 22 golfers competed in Olympic golf in 1900 – ten women and 12 men. In 1904, 77 golfers featured (all men), with a total of 93 different players competing across both Games.

– Only five different countries have contested golf in the Olympics: Canada, France, Great Britain, Greece and the United States.

– The venue for the 1900 Olympic golf events was Compiegne Golf Club in Paris, with Glen Echo Golf Club in St Louis hosting it in 1904.

Bryce Ritchie is the Editor of bunkered and, in addition to leading on content and strategy, oversees all aspects of the brand. The first full-time journalist employed by bunkered, he joined the company in 2001 and has been editor since 2009. A member of Balfron Golfing Society, he currently plays off nine and once got a lesson from Justin Thomas’ dad.

Editor of bunkered