Finally An Olympic WD We Can All Agree Is Regrettable, Understandable And Reason To Hate Wraparound Golf!

/

Zika virus talk is terribly unsexy, depressing and hard to refute when wheeled out by players who understandably do not want to mention Rio's security concerns or their lack of interest in participating in the world's greatest athletic competition.

But I know we all can unite around any opportunity to be reminded of the sheer silliness that is wraparound golf!

You may recall that PGA Tour Tim Finchem, whose bonus revolves around purse growth/playing opportunities, worked very hard to make four fall PGA Tour events more important even though they earn some positively eye-openingly low ratings in either form of scheduling (as Fall Finish or new season events).

(Take this year's midweek NCAA golf ratings and divide by two). The domino effect from the wraparound vision meant golf tried to wheel out playoffs right when America's attention shifted to college and pro football, and worse, started the upcoming year three months earlier, giving us clunky stuff like 2016-17, etc...

A wraparound schedule also meant that once every four years, players looking to keep their card would have to decide between the Olympics and securing their livelihood. Camilo Villegas is in that camp, and so is Zimbabwe's hope for Olympic golf.

Rex Hoggard reports on Brendon de Jonge announcing his Rio WD. He rightfully has to worry about his career at 160 on the FedExCup points list and because of the wraparound schedule, had to choose career.

“I am truly disappointed, but my current position on the FedEx Cup points list does not allow me the luxury to skip the John Deere Classic or the Travelers Championship,” de Jonge said. “I must finish in the top 125 to gain entry into our FedEx Cup Playoffs. This has to be a priority for me and my family.”

Of course, wraparound enthusiasts (amazingly there are a few left in spite of the numbers and apathy expressed), would say that much of this Olympic apathy or WD's due to needing FedExCup points could have been avoided had the PGA Tour done what the LPGA Tour did, and take a break around the Olympic golf that the tour has stressed is vital to growing the game.

But that would have meant not growing executive pocketbooks. And therefore, you know why players are not showing much sympathy for those who, admirably, worked hard to get golf in the Olympics. They just didn't work hard enough to make it easier for players to ignore the annoyances for the shot at representing their country after a 104 year absence.