Harrington delight as golf earns its place at 2016 Olympics

From James Toney, Sportsbeat

DOUBLE Open champion Padraig Harrington believes Olympic gold would be the ‘rarest and most prized achievement' for any golfer.

DELIGHT: Ireland's Padraig Harrington believes winning Olympic gold would be golf's rarest prize (Getty Images)

The three-time major winner played a key role in golf's presentation to the International Olympic Committee, who voted to include the sport at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro by a margin of 63 votes to 27.

"Golf is not a sport dominated by one country - among the top ten men and women players in the world, 12 nations are represented," said Harrington.

"Including golf gives a chance to a small country like Ireland to compete on the world stage.

"As a child, growing up in Ireland, I always dreamed of being an Olympian and I would cherish the opportunity to compete at the Games for the rest of my life.

"I can see nothing better than being in the Olympic Village, living there and experiencing what the athletes go through.

"For me, that's the highest point of the Olympics - apart from the competition.''

Golf's delegation at the IOC Session in Copenhagen also included American Michelle Wie, Norway's Suzann Pettersen and Italian teenager Matteo Manassero, the youngest ever winner of the Amateur Championship last year.

In addition, the International Golf Federation played a video that included contributions from players around the world, including American Tiger Woods, Australia's Karrie Webb, Fiji's Vijay Singh and South Africa's Ernie Els.

American IOC member Anita DeFrantz voiced worries about the policy of some of the world's leading courses to exclude women while others questioned the high cost of equipment and club memberships.

But Peter Dawson, the chief executive of the Royal and Ancient Club, did his best to smooth over any concerns.

"We are an inclusive sport," he insisted.

"Golf is enjoyed by 60 million people, young and old, in every part of the world.

"I'm aware that golf has a reputation for having men only clubs. But the number of single sex clubs is currently less than half of one percent and that number is falling rapidly.

"Our sport is closely aligned to the values and ethos of Olympism. Your beliefs in sportsmanship, honour, integrity, excellence and fair play are also close to our hearts.

"These are important lessons to youth."

Dawson also insisted the world's top players had committed to compete at the Olympics, after one IOC member sought assurances that Woods would compete in 2016.

He confirmed that 60 men and women would compete in a 72-hole strokeplay tournament - with the world's top 15 players qualifying automatically, while below that no country will be allowed to enter more than two players.