Woods welcomes Olympic chance

CHASKA, Minn. | Tiger Woods is interested in adding a gold medal to his collection of green jackets.

Woods indicated Tuesday he would play in the Olympics if golf became part of the program in 2016. The International Olympic Committee executive board is to meet Thursday in Berlin to recommend two sports for inclusion in the 2016 Games. Golf and rugby sevens are considered the favorites.

Golf has not been part of the Olympics since 1904. Woods, who has completed the career Grand Slam three times, felt it should have been an Olympic sport a while ago. He then was asked whether he would compete.

“If I’m not retired by then, yeah,” Woods said. Asked again whether he would play, Woods nodded his head and said, “Yep.”

It was his most definitive comments about his participation in the Olympics. Woods will be 40 for the 2016 Games.

Woods, Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Annika Sorenstam and other players have helped promote golf’s bid to get into the Olympics. It would be a stroke-play competition over 72 holes if accepted.

“I think that golf is a truly global sport, and I think it should have been in the Olympics a while ago,” he said. “If it does get in, I think it would be great for golf and especially some of the other smaller countries that are now emerging in golf. I think it’s a great way for them to compete and play and get the exposure that some of these countries aren’t getting.”

Immelman drops out

Trevor Immelman withdrew Tuesday, making this the third straight major he has missed because of a wrist injury.

The former Masters champion from South Africa is being replaced by Bob Estes.

Immelman missed the U.S. and British opens after injuring his left wrist at the Memorial in early June. He returned at the Canadian Open but missed the cut, then finished 60th last weekend at the Bridgestone.

On the menu

In a tradition that doesn’t get as much attention as that other “Champions Dinner” in April at Augusta National, the defending PGA champion is in charge of the menu and gifts for all PGA champions on Tuesday night of tournament week.

Typical of Padraig Harrington, he gave this considerable thought.

“I enjoyed the process, especially because my wife [Caroline] was involved,” Harrington said.

Being from Ireland, he figured it should be an Irish meal. He said the most popular meal would be bacon and cabbage, but there was only one problem with having that for dinner.

“I don’t like it,” Harrington said. “When it comes to Irish food, you’re limited in what you can choose.”