Officials lobbying for golf to include a mixed competition at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics are “optimistic” the proposal will be accepted by the International Olympic Committee.
A meeting on Monday will hear golf’s submission to include a two-day mixed event, which would be staged between the men’s and women’s individual tournaments.
Golf’s return to the Games has been judged an overwhelming success. Justin Rose won men’s gold for Great Britain in Rio in 2016 in the first Olympic golf tournament for 112 years.
In Paris last year world number one Scottie Scheffler snatched a thrilling victory in the men’s event, while New Zealand’s Lydia Ko claimed the women’s title to complete a personal set of gold, silver and bronze medals.
But critics said the sport was missing a trick by not having a combined mixed team competition.
The International Golf Federation (IGF) has signalled its desire to add an event where one pair from each competing nation would compete in a two-day tournament to be held in the gap between the 60-player individual tournaments.
“We’re one of many submissions, but we’re hearing very positive things and support from LA28, and also strong support from rights holding broadcasters like NBC for us to have that event,” IGF executive director Antony Scanlon told BBC Sport.
“Hopefully, with that support, the submission will be seen in the right light next Monday.
“I’ve been optimistic the whole time. I wouldn’t want to be wasting anybody’s time on this.
“It’s got fantastic merit, especially coming out of Paris and the great support we’ve received from all the athletes, male and female.”
Ko and Shane Lowry, who carried the Irish flag at the Paris opening ceremony, are among players who are backing the bid.
“It’s very compelling as to why we should be part of the programme,” Scanlon said.
“Even beyond the social and sporting aspect, there’s the financial aspect as well – two extra days in LA with minimal operational expense and a big upside in terms of ticketing and revenues from merchandise etc.”
To accommodate the extra event, the 72-hole men’s tournament would move forward a day and begin on Wednesday and finish on Saturday of the first week of the Games, which are scheduled to begin on 14 July 2028.
“On the Sunday we’ll tee up with the mixed and we’ll have foursomes, alternate shot. So it’s not as taxing on those players that have been playing the day before. On the Monday (of the second week) we’ll have fourballs.
“It may sound like a lot of golf, but for an extra medal I think the male and the female players will certainly be up for it.”
The women’s tournament would begin on the Wednesday.
With only one pair per country in the mixed tournament, there will be room for female players not involved to practise on the Riviera Country Club course that will host the tournaments.
Scanlon believes the opportunity to win extra medals will be attractive to competitors interrupting their usual schedules to compete at the Games.
“It will showcase just how good our female players are when they’re with their male partners,” he said.
“It will then have the tours start to look at how they can cross-pollinate as to individual events and team events where you have a mixed format.
“If we get it, there will be some positive momentum flow out of that for the sport itself.”
The earlier date for the LA Games provides a headache for golf’s leading administrators because it clashes with the traditional mid-July spot in the schedule for the last major of the year, The Open.
A date and venue for the championship in 2028 has yet to be announced.
“We’re working towards a good outcome on that now,” Scanlon said.
A decision on whether golf will have a mixed tournament in 2028 is expected on 9 April.
Golf will be one of at least 36 sports to be contested in LA.
Five sports – flag football, squash, baseball, cricket and lacrosse – have been added to the schedule.--BBC
