Row brewing over Golf inclusion in 2012 Olympics
(Agencies)
Updated: 2004-09-24 12:35

Golf has been short-listed for the 2012 Olympics but a row could be brewing within the sport over whether to press ahead for its inclusion in the Games.

The Royal and Ancient Club (R&A), which governs golf outside the United States, is backing the bid but there could be opposition from the European and US PGA tours.

"It's good to hear that we have been confirmed (on the short-list)," R&A secretary Peter Dawson said in a telephone interview on Thursday.

"But it's true to say that the two tours are less supportive than they were. They have issues over the scheduling of the event which could cause conflict (with tour tournaments)."

Dawson stressed that there was still a long way to go before golf returned to the Games schedule.

"Because of the imposed limit at the Games, any new sport would have to take the place of an existing one which would then be deposed," he added.

He said the matter would be discussed between the various governing bodies at an International Golf Federation meeting in Puerto Rico on October 26.

Golf was included at the Paris Games in 1900 and St Louis in 1904.

European Tour and PGA Tour officials were not immediately available for comment.

A decision on which country hosts the 2012 Olympics will be taken by the International Olympic Committee in July 2005.

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