R&A chief: Golf is not an elitist sport

 ROYAL and Ancient chief executive Peter Dawson insists golf is an all inclusive sport ahead Friday's IOC Session which could result in Olympic inclusion.

 SUPPORT BY PROXY: Tiger Woods is not in Copenhagen for vote but has sent a pre-recorded video message

Golf, along with rugby sevens, requires a simple majority from the 114 IOC voting members to return from 114 years of Olympic exile at the Rio 2016 Games.

While rugby sevens sailed through to IOC Executive Board ballot to face the members' vote, golf crept through after four complex ballots, relying on second preference votes to see off karate and softball.

And while rugby sevens, a popular attraction at the Commonwealth Games, is expected to waltz through Friday's vote, golf is likely to come under more scrutiny.

In a similar way to tennis, golf's potential addition to the Olympics has come in for criticism for not being the pinnacle of the sport or most sought after prize, as well as its elitist traditions.

But Dawson is adamant that is no longer the case.

"Golf has many major championships but I have been struck by the amazing enthusiasm of the top players who are all very excited at the prospect of competing for a gold medal for their countries," said Dawson, acting president of the International Golf Federation.

"Golf has become a very affordable sport. In the USA, 72 per cent of courses are public facilities, 56 per cent of players have a household income of 25,000 to 100,000 dollars. That is hardly elitist."

World number one Tiger Woods has publicly given his backing to the bid but will not be in Copenhagen to for last-minute lobbying on behalf of the sport, instead opting to address the IOC with a pre-recorded video.

Instead it is the USA's Michelle Wie and Norway's Suzann Pettersen who will spearhead final push, a shrewd move as one of golf's key strengths is its popularity among women.

Wie said: "Taking part in the Olympics would be the highest achievement for every golfer.

"Winning an Olympic medal will be the highest point you could reach. Competing for your country would make the stakes that much higher."