The Grant Thornton Invitational started final 12 months to sturdy criticism from PGA Tour and LPGA Tour gamers who participated within the first combined group occasion since 1999.
Subsequent on the horizon are the Olympics.
The format is already set for the Summer time Olympics at Le Golf Nationwide exterior Paris. As in Tokyo and Rio de Janeiro, there shall be 72-hole competitions for women and men. However Olympic officers are near finalizing a group competitors for the 2028 Video games at Riviera in Los Angeles.
An individual concerned within the discussions stated an announcement may come as quickly because the Masters. The particular person spoke to The Related Press on situation of anonymity as a result of the small print haven’t been accomplished.
Among the many particulars are what number of groups will play and the format for the competitors. The present plan for 2028 is for males to start out on Wednesday (as an alternative of Thursday) and end on Saturday. The group competitors could possibly be on Sunday and Monday. The ladies had a apply spherical on Tuesday and can start their competitors on Wednesday.
The Worldwide Olympic Committee tends to frown on awarding two medals from one competitors, resembling combining scores from people into one group medal. That’s the reason golf officers suggest a separate occasion.
Nonetheless to be decided is what number of international locations shall be eligible to compete. An choice at the moment below dialogue is 36 holes of fourballs to resolve the group medalists.
The IOC would do nicely to think about singles. To have a group format (foursomes or fourballs) on Sunday, adopted by single scores from every female and male participant may produce scores of 54 holes.
That is the format used on the Summer time Youth Olympics, the place golf was first performed in 2014. On the final competitors, Atthaya Thitikul was a part of the Thai group that received gold over Akshay Bhatia and Lucy Li from america.
A combined group occasion requires solely two extra days for gamers. It’s unlikely that any of the highest gamers would play the next week in a daily PGA Tour occasion.
Lydia Ko and Jason Day received the inaugural Grant Thornton Invitational. Ko already has a silver and a bronze in his two Olympic appearances.
