Shane Lowry - 2019 Champion Golfer of The Year (note first post please for posting guidance)

Jawgap wrote: »

No, money will determine if golf makes it into any future Olympiads.

The TV rights for the games are worth in the region of $8billion to the IOC - if they think golf at somewhere like Saint-Nom-la-Bretèche or Le Golf National (especially if the 2018 Ryder Cup is a good one) makes the Games that bit more marketable it will stay.

There's a world of difference between golf in a country with no tradition in the sport and a course knocked up in a few years and golf in a country with the oldest national open on the Continent using a venue that recently staged the pre-eminent team competition in the sport.

What may happen is that they'll change the format of the competition.

It needs to become a team only event, preferably with match play. The current format is awful.

It may stay, it may go. One thing is for sure, the sport's Olympic life is off to the worst possible start.

I also find it funny that no female golfers have pulled out of Rio. Funny that!

The Zika thing is obviously a smokescreen. The main problem is the timing - stuck into a schedule already crammed with important events.

There are other issues; golf in the Olympics is handled by the International Golf Federation which is the association of national bodies like the GUI and ILGU. The origins and ethos of the IGF were very much around the amateur game and not ideal for negotiating with the professional game at the top level. For example I suspect the significance of sponsor clashes eluded them. The IOC negotiates overall and event sponsors for the games but each professional golfer is locked into his/her personal deal about logos, clothing, equipment etc. That will have been a factor in many of the withdrawals.

The last time golf was in the Olympics was 1904 and only two countries (US and Canada) took part. Golf has been on the Olympic agenda for a long time - they were pushing it (using the Bobby Jones connection) at Atlanta back in 1996 and probably before. I can see why they want it for Tokyo and I suspect the players will be a lot more available for that one. Rio is just a bad place to start.

JIdontknow wrote: »

commentary last night were saying he has 3 new wedges in his bag this week, whether that has any baring on things. They were saying this after he hit a chip shot and it hit the pin but stayed out, so obviously didn't affect him too much.

He Changes his wedges every 2 weeks, always exact same specs, just to have the grooves always sharp, commentators have to talk about something, and usually about something they know nothing about it seems.

Golfgorfield wrote: »

He Changes his wedges every 2 weeks, always exact same specs, just to have the grooves always sharp, commentators have to talk about something, and usually about something they know nothing about it seems.

I think the suggestion is that he may have changed the spec on his wedges.

Trampas wrote: »

Silly question why come back to Ireland for a few days between us open and wgc?

Has he a home in states or lives out of the suitcase when over there?

There was a big event in Royal County Dublin just after the Open that he and some other big names attended. A Chinese family/company booked out the entire course, so I assume it was very financially attractive for Shane and co to attend.

Seve OB wrote: »

Where is Royal County Dublin?

I think you know fine well where he meant :rolleyes:

Seve OB wrote: »

Of course I do but it's not that hard to get the name of a golf course correct. Especially one which is so well known

Whatever you do Seve, don't use the forum search function for "Stapleford".

Stone. Glass. House.

Minderbinder wrote: »

Shane is a very big fish in a very small pond this week. I gather he decided to play in Denmark before it became impossible for him to qualify for the Ryder Cup team. Now he will miss the start of the play-offs in the US. Poor decision in any case in my opinion, and I wouldn't expect he'll have the enthusiasm to muster a challenge this week.

I think Clark is playing this week in Denmark as well. Maybe Shane might have been hoping to impress him, but I think he has blown his chances of a pick - certainly I wouldn't pick him.

AGC wrote: »

If you look at the draw Clarke, Bjorn and Paul Lawrie are all playing with prospective picks. Pieters, Kaymer and Lowry.

I think Shane won't get a pick (Win this week might not even be enough), he should not have been relying one really after such a good year last year, his inexperience will mean he will lose out to Kaymer.

Clarke will be off his rocker if he doesn't go with Knox IMO. Westwood, Knox and Kaymer.

Highly unlikely Lowry will get a pick , hes had 2 Top 10s the whole year, missed 6 of last 8 cuts. Thats simply miles off Ryder cup form. He knows rightly anyway.