Golf may soon be added to the 2016 summer Olympic games schedule. On Brent Kelley’s blog, he posted that on Aug. 13, 2009, the executive board of the International Olympic Committee voted to recommend that golf be added to the 2016 Summer Olympics. The next step in returning golf to the Olympics is a final vote by the full IOC, which will take place in October.

So, if golf is back in the Olympics, what will the format be like? The organization that lobbied the IOC to add golf to the Olympics, the International Golf Federation, has recommended “a 72-hole individual stroke play for both men and women, mirroring the format used in golf’s major championships. In case of a tie for either first, second or third place, a three-hole playoff is recommended to determine the medal winner(s).” So in short, this will mean men’s and women’s tournaments, stroke play, 72 holes each, with a 3-hole playoff in the event of ties.

Now the other question is who will be eligible to play? Again, the International Golf Federation has some recommendations. They recommend that the top 15 world-ranked players gain automatic entry. After the top 15 ranked players, “players are selected based on world ranking – but only if no more than two golfers from a single country are already in the field.”

Currently, here are the top 15 world-ranked players. All would be automatic qualifiers.
1. Tiger Woods, United States
2. Phil Mickelson, United States
3. Paul Casey, England
4. Kenny Perry, United States
5. Steve Stricker, United States
6. Sergio Garcia, Spain
7. Henrik Stenson, Sweden
8. Geoff Ogilvy, Australia
9. Stewart Cink, United States
10. Padraig Harrington, Ireland
11. Jim Furyk, United States
12. Vijay Singh, Fiji
13. Lee Westwood, England
14. Martin Kaymer, Germany
15. Camilo Villegas, Columbia

How do you think the IOC will vote in October? Do you agree with the format and selection process the IGF has suggested?