Olympic Golf Format Still Under Review

Doug Ferguson explains the scheduling mess that is the 2016 Open Championship and PGA in the Olympic year, and also shares Peter Dawson's most detailed comments to date about reconsidering the stunningly unoriginal 72-hole stroke play format chosen by the International Golf Federation.

"I think we all had this at the back of our mind at the start, `Wouldn't it be nice to make the Olympic competition a little bit different, at least from the week in, week out competition?"' Dawson said.

He believes that a standard 72-hole event of stroke play is the best way to determine a champion, though the idea of an element of match play, or a team competition, has been raised and "it's those areas we'll be having a look at."

Dawson's personal opinion is to stick with stroke play, and the format is unlikely to change for 2016. Even if the IGF wanted to change the format, it would require approval from the IOC.

"Golf's bid was based on individual competition," he said. "In order for that to be changed - and I'm not sure that it ought to be changed - but if it were to be, we'd have to get agreement from the IOC sports department."