By Tim Rosaforte
Illustration By Julien Pacaud
July 2009
Jack Nicklaus and Annika Sorenstam won their share of gold medals, just never in the Olympics. Now these two golf icons have been called on by the International Golf Federation to help make a final presentation in June to the International Olympic Committee in Lausanne, Switzerland. ‘We're talking about the impact this has on the world and the game of golf.’ The IOC meets in Copenhagen, Denmark, in October to decide if golf will become an Olympic sport in 2016. "Golf's inherent values embody the Olympic Spirit," Nicklaus says. Sorenstam adds that she would consider a comeback at 45 for a chance to represent her native Sweden. "We're talking about the impact this has on the world and the game of golf," she says ... Speaking of the Olympics, Brian Gay (Verizon Heritage) and Jerry Kelly (Zurich Classic) won back to back on the PGA Tour in April after going through mental-management training with 1976 gold-medal rifle marksman Lanny Bassham. ... Cristie Kerr, the 2007 U.S. Women's Open champion, has turned to Zen Golf author and psychologist Joe Parent, but Brittany Lincicome might have stolen her good karma when she eagled the final hole and won the Kraft Nabisco Championship by a shot over Kerr. It was Kerr's best finish in a major since winning the Open and sets up a potential rematch between the two Americans at this year's U.S. Women's Open (Saucon Valley Country Club, Bethlehem, Pa., July 9-12). Lincicome credited her first major victory to the Pia Nilsson/Lynn Marriott book, Every Shot Must Have a Purpose. ... Teen sensation Rory McIlroy recently turned down a special, temporary PGA Tour membership to focus on the European tour and play the Lough Erne Challenge, an exhibition in which he and fellow Irishman Padraig Harrington will duel (18 holes, stroke play) July 22 in Northern Ireland.
Tim Rosaforte, a Senior Writer for Golf Digest and Golf World, appears on Golf Channel's "Golf Central" and NBC's coverage of the Players, U.S. Open and Presidents Cup.
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