(ATR) International Golf Federation president Peter Dawson has reacted to the news that Australian Adam Scott, the number seven ranked in the world, will skip the highly anticipated Olympic golf tournament in Rio.
"We’ll miss Adam – I think he’s missing a great opportunity, but I respect his decision," Dawson told Around the Rings at the SportAccord Convention Wednesday in Lausanne.
"I’m delighted to say that the vast majority of the top players, in fact all of the other top players you can think of have signed up with our entry forms," Dawson added.
Scott, 35, who is off to a quick start having won consecutive PGA tournaments this season, said he is "too busy" to try and win an Olympic golf medal as the sport returns to the Games after more than a century.
The Australian golfer and 2013 Masters champion issued a statement: "My decision has been taken as a result of an extremely busy playing schedule around the time of the Olympics and other commitments, both personal and professional," it said.
Scott has previously criticized golf’s return to the Olympic fold and in May said the sport doesn’t need to be in the Games, referring to it as "an exhibition."
Scott isn’t the only well-known golfer to withdraw from the Olympic tournament to be played on a recently finished Gil Hanse-designed course in Rio’s Barra da Tijuca cluster. Three-time major champion Vijay Singh, 53, and colorful Spaniard Miguel Angel Jimenez, 52, have also pulled out.
Jimenez, whose nickname is "the mechanic" famously joked about the Olympic experience last September when he commented: "Of course I would like to be in the Olympics. Can you imagine Miguel Angel Jimenez in Rio with a big fat cigar walking through the middle of the Olympic Village with all the athletes around? I would love that."
Dawson, the former president at the Royal & Ancient, didn’t miss a beat on Wednesday, taking a jab at Jimenez’ decision and Olympic-related comments.
"To be honest, I was slightly dreading Jimenez appearing with a cigar at the Olympic Games," Dawson said. "The golf course is a no smoking area so that would have applied."
Singh previously said that he was looking forward to representing Fiji at the Games, but now instead wants to focus on improving his game while playing the PGA Tour. Singh failed to make the cut at the recent Masters tournament, an event that he won in 2000, and has generally struggled at other events this season.
Regarding Singh, Dawson responded: "Vijay is a very fit guy – I’m sorry he won’t be there and being Fijian, he was certainly a potential player.
"They all have their own reasons and while we’ll miss them, we’re going to have a hell of a strong field at the Olympic Games," said the Scottish-born Dawson. "I’m looking forward to it immensely."
Dawson said that the four-round, stroke play tournament in Rio will provide a golden opportunity for some of the sport’s top young talents to shine on the Olympic stage.
"I think the whole Olympic experience will really appeal to the younger guys and girls," Dawson said. "Being among athletes from other sports who tend to be from their age group will give them a lift, give them a buzz.
"If we don’t see the youngsters coming through in strength, I’ll be very surprised.
Written by Brian Pinelli in Lausanne.
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