'Inclusive' system sees top players miss Olympic cut

Lydia Ko would be NZ's sole Olympic representative to line up at the Reserva de Marapendi in Barra da Tijuca, about five kilometres from the athletes' village in Rio. Photo / NZME.

If the Olympic Games golf tournament was to start today, Ryan Fox would be in the field.

Surprised? You shouldn't be. The young Aucklander, who makes his Open debut at St Andrews late tonight, fits into the criteria for the 60-person field to mark golf's return after a 111-year absence from the Olympics. Indeed he actually sits relatively comfortably inside the requirements, as does Danny Lee.

Lydia Ko would be New Zealand's sole Olympic representative to line up at the Reserva de Marapendi in Barra da Tijuca, about five kilometres from the athletes' village in Rio.

The format for the events are two fields of 60 players for 72-holes of individual strokeplay, with ties for first, second and third being decided by playoffs.

The top 15 players on world rankings on July 11 next year qualify automatically with a limit of four for any one country.

After that, countries can have a maximum of two players from any country which does not already had two or more players in the top 15.

Fox, ranked No 211 this week, would qualify in 50th spot; Lee in 27th, while Ko is second on the women's eligibility list. The top-ranked players on the list are Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland and South Korea's Inbee Park.

Among the reasons golf's inclusion for both Rio and Tokyo in 2020 has been so contentious is that so many of the world's best players are ineligible.

For starters, Luke Donald, Phil Michelson, Lee Westwood, Matt Kuchar and Charl Schwartzel would not make it. Siddibur Rahman of Bangladesh, ranked No 318, and Mark Tullo of Chile, No 321, would.

As for Tiger Woods, world No 241 this week, forget it. The four Americans in the field would be Jordan Spieth, Bubba Watson, Dustin Johnson and Ricky Fowler.

Over 30 countries are expected to be represented in Rio, and that's one of the big selling points for the International Olympic Committee. They like inclusivity and even though the winners will likely come from a relatively small group, that is overridden by the number of countries which would have a direct interest.

Fox will have other matters on his mind when he tees off at the historic home of golf just after midnight tonight. A year of consistent golf - the key cutoff is July 11 next year - should have him booking a ticket to Brazil.