Dougherty: Green jacket beats Olympic gold

ENGLAND'S Nick Dougherty has thrown his support behind golf's bid for a place at the Olympics - but insists he would not swap a green jacket for a gold medal.

SUPPORTER: England's Nick Dougherty - at the launch of junior golf championship HSBC Wee Wonders - has championed golf's Olympic cause but admitted winning a major is still more prestigious (Getty Images)

Along with six other sports, golf is lobbying hard for inclusion at the 2016 Olympics. There are two vacant spots on the programme and the applicant sports will be trimmed to two at August's IOC Executive Board meeting in Berlin.

A full vote of the IOC membership will then take place at October's IOC Congress, with each of the two shortlisted sports needing to gain a majority of the electorate to be included.

Critics have pointed out that golf's biggest weakness is the fact an Olympic gold would be insignificant when compared to success in one of its four major tournaments - the Masters, US Open, Open Championship and PGA Championship.

And it's claim only reinforced by the Dougherty - his comments contradicting recent quotes from 18-time major winner Jack Nicklaus, a major supporter of golf's Olympic bid.

"To win a gold medal would be a fantastic feeling but there's no way it could match wearing a green jacket," he said.

"A hundred years down the line that might change but right now a green jacket is the prize every golfer wants.

"However, I think it would be fantastic to compete at the Olympics and I'm still young enough to do that.

"Golf would be very different to what they've got in the Olympics at the moment. It's a great game for youngsters to watch and learn from - it teaches principles of honesty, respect and integrity."

But Dougherty, speaking at the launch of the HSBC Wee Wonders 2009, is convinced the leading players in the world should compete rather than their amateur rivals.

2010 European Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie has championed the leading amateurs' cause but Dougherty, who helped Great Britain and Ireland win the Walker Cup in 2001, doesn't agree.

"Is the Olympics really amateur these days? I'm not so sure," he added.

"The two stars of Beijing were Usain Bolt and Michael Phelps and look how much money they earn - that's not amateur status to me.

"If we are going to make the effort of getting the game into the Olympics then I believe the best players should be playing."

* HSBC Wee Wonders is a national golf competition for 5-12-year-olds of all standards. To find out more and sign-up for the 2009 event visit www.hsbcweewonders.com or call 0207 862 0060

CRAIG CHISNALL