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If you didn’t think the Olympic men’s golf competition set to get underway next week in Rio couldn’t become any more of a hilarious, rollicking trash fire -- well, you were wrong.
Matt Kuchar, a member of the United States Olympic team who will tee off in said competition exactly eight days from now, thought golf in the games would be some kind of team competition until a few moments ago.
This is amazing: Just asked Matt Kuchar about Olympics. He thought it was team format. Didn't know individual stroke play. And he's playing.
— Jason Sobel (@JasonSobelESPN) August 3, 2016
Yes, you read that right: A member of the U.S. Olympic team was expecting to show up to Rio to play some alternate-shot or best-ball, or some sort of team format that is not the same old 72-hole individual stroke play. He’s been on the team for three weeks and the tournament is in eight dang days.
The comment is especially jarring considering the source. Kuchar’s known among golf media members as a very aware guy who’s often able to talk about course set ups, layouts, and controversies very knowledgeably. It speaks volumes about the preparation or thought that’s gone into the Olympic golf tournament by the players — even for a guy without a major championship that could have his career’s crowning moment in Rio. The format is counterintuitive and wasted an opportunity to set up some exciting new team and match play event. But the format’s been known for years now.
Of course, maybe this isn’t shocking at all. Kuchar, along with 75% of the American men’s golf team, isn’t in Rio yet. Only Rickie Fowler will walk in the opening ceremonies Friday. Instead, along with Patrick Reed and Bubba Watson, Kuchar will play this week’s Travelers Championship in Hartford before jetting down afterward -- a clear indication that making this fall’s Ryder Cup team for the USA is a far bigger priority than bringing home gold.
Olympic golf! It probably won’t be fun!
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