| After years of sales pitches, lobbying and | | | | Harrington of Ireland and 19-year-old U.S. star |
| persuasion efforts, golf and rugby were | | | | Michelle Wie will arrive in Copenhagen on |
| short-listed by the International Olympic | | | | Wednesday, and Friday's presentation will also |
| Committee's executive board for inclusion in the | | | | include a videotaped message from Tiger Woods |
| 2016 Games, leaving baseball, softball and three | | | | and other top pros competing in this week's |
| other sports out of the running. | | | | President's Cup. |
| The full 106-member IOC Session must approve | | | | Run back over the past, golf was once played at |
| the two finalists when it convenes in Copenhagen | | | | the 1900 Paris Olympics and 1904 St. Louis |
| in October. If golf overcomes rugby, Tiger | | | | Games. As a big sport, the Olympics is without |
| Woods' dream that to get an Olympic gold medal | | | | doubt the biggest stage in sport in the world, golf |
| will come true. | | | | is not an exception. |
| | | | | Golf sees the Olympics as a way to spread the |
| Both golf and rugby will make a 20-minute | | | | game to developing countries and increase its |
| presentation before the vote. Golf is proposing a | | | | popularity on continents like South America and |
| 72-hole stroke-play competition for men and | | | | Africa. However, some IOC members have been |
| women, with 60 players in each field. Rugby, golf's | | | | unhappy with the selection process for picking the |
| tough opponent, has proposed a four-day Sevens | | | | new sports, with the executive board narrowing |
| tournament — rather than the traditional | | | | the list from seven to two at a meeting in Berlin |
| 15-a-side competition_ for 12 men's and women's | | | | in August. Besides this, great pressure from rugby |
| teams. In addition, golf and rugby are bringing out | | | | and also some other sports makes golf still |
| some of their top stars for the final presentation. | | | | struggling. |
| To golf, three-time major winner Padraig | | | | |