Nicklaus, Sorenstam to back golf as Olympic sport

2008-12-18

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PONTE VERDE, FLORIDA (TICKER) —Jack Nicklaus and Annika Sorenstam are throwing their support behind making golf an Olympic sport in 2016, the International Golf Federation announced Thursday.

As global ambassadors, the two Hall of Famers will represent the Olympic golf effort at select international events. They also will lend ongoing support to the IGF’s Olympic Golf Committee, which is spearheading the bid.

The International Olympic Committee will vote on whether to add as many as two new sports to the 2016 Games in October 2009 at the 121st session in Copenhagen, Denmark. Golf last was an Olympic sport in 1904.

Considered by many as the greatest player in the sport’s history, Nicklaus won 18 major championships and 118 worldwide tournaments during his career.

“As a player and now a course designer, I have seen the game of golf enjoy tremendous growth worldwide, and we are now seeing the game introduced and grow in new countries and markets every day,” Nicklaus said. “Golf truly embodies the Olympic spirit with foundation built upon honor, integrity, dignity and sportsmanship.

“I believe with its inclusion, golf can strengthen the Olympic movement throughout the world. At the same time, it can have a tremendous impact on the growth of golf where it is a developing sport.”

A native of Sweden, the recently retired Sorenstam won 89 career titles, including 72 triumphs on the LPGA Tour.

“Now, as I step aside from competitive golf, a major objective of mine is to help grow the game around the world and I can think of no better way to grow it than through the Olympics,” Sorenstam said.