BERLIN | Imagine the scene: Tiger Woods lining up a 20-foot putt on the final hole with an Olympic gold medal at stake.
That scenario came closer to reality Thursday when golf was recommended for inclusion in the 2016 Summer Games along with the fast-paced game of rugby sevens.
Baseball and softball, meanwhile, struck out. Seeking to return to the Olympics after being voted out four years ago and denied reinstatement a year later, they were among the five sports failing to make the cut this time.
The International Olympic Committee executive board selected golf and rugby from a list of seven proposed sports, which also included squash, karate and roller sports.
The board also approved women’s boxing for the 2012 London Games, bringing gender parity to the only summer Olympic sport that had been for men only.
Golf and rugby will be put forward for ratification by the full 106-member IOC assembly in Copenhagen in October. Final approval will require a simple majority. The sports will be put to individual votes, not as a tandem.
“In the end, the decision came down to which two would add the most value,” IOC president Jacques Rogge said. “Golf and rugby will be a great addition to the games. … They have global appeal, a geographically diverse lineup of top iconic athletes and an ethic that stresses fair play.”
Few if any other athletes have more global appeal than Woods, who indicated this week he would play in the Olympics if the sport got the nod from the IOC.
“Who is one of the major icons of the world? Tiger Woods,” Rogge said. “This is a very important sport.”
Rogge said he feels “absolutely” certain the top golfers would compete, just as other star professionals have done.
“We have seen that in tennis, ice hockey and basketball,” he said. “It’s not because they are professionals that they are not interested in coming to the Games. Look at Michael Jordan or Wayne Gretzky.”
Golf could also be a good fit for Chicago, which is vying with Rio de Janeiro, Madrid and Tokyo for the 2016 Olympics. That decision will be made by the IOC in Copenhagen on Oct. 2, a week before the vote on the two sports. The Chicago area has three courses which have hosted majors - Olympia Fields, Medinah and Kemper Lakes.
Golf was played at the 1900 Paris and 1904 St. Louis Games. The sport’s backers say bringing golf back to the Olympics would help it develop worldwide, noting many governments fund only Olympic sports.
“It’s a historic moment for golf,” said Peter Dawson, chief executive of the R&A and co-leader of golf’s Olympic bid. “We’re absolutely delighted to have the prospect of being back in.”
Golf proposes a 72-hole stroke-play competition for men and women, with 60 players in each field. The world’s top 15 players would qualify automatically, and all major professional tours would alter tournament schedules to avoid clashing with the Olympics.
Rugby was played in four Olympics between 1900 and 1924 in the full 15-a-side format but now proposes the seven-a-side version. The tournament would be played over four days with 12 teams each for men and women.
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