Men’s Olympics 397

                           This Week the Men Go for Gold

Held at Le Golf National

7331 Yards  Par  72

Guyancourt

The Defending Gold Medalist is Xander Schauffele

This week the Olympics and for the third time in the modern era golfers wear their national colors and compete for their country.  First contested in 1900 where 12 golfers contested 36 holes of stroke play, back to back on the 2nd of October.  American Charles Sands shot an 82 / 85 to win by one.

FUN FACT:  Charlie also competed in tennis at the 1900 Olympics in singles, doubles and mixed doubles . . . no medals though.

Held again in 1904 where Canadian Charles Lyon took home the gold.  The 1908 tournament was cancelled just two days before it was to be held due to a lack of competitors.  The 1908 tournament saw England and Scotland unable to agree on a format so the Brits withdrew.   In the end the only entrant was defending champion Charles Lyon who declined to accept another Gold medal, winning by default.  Brought back in 1920 but again it was cancelled for lack of entrants . . . and then disappeared from the games.  In 2009, the IOC voted to bring back golf for the 2016 games.  Many of the world’s top players declined to participate and there was some apprehension about how it would be received.  It exceeded expectations . . . Justin Rose held off Henrik Stenson for the Gold while Matt Kuchar shot a final round 63 for the Bronze.  Golf is Back!

Four and an Alt

Here’s a good trick: Get a job as a judge at the Olympics. Then, if some guy sets a world record, pretend that you didn’t see it and go . . . 

“Okay, is everybody ready to start now?”

~ Jack Handy