(ATR) Craig Reedie, Ivo Ferriani and Raja Randhir Singh witness golf's return to the Olympics after 112 years.
The trio of IOC members were seen along Reserva de Marapendi’s fairways and greens taking inround one of the Olympic golf tournament.
Despite winds that gained strength as the first round progressed, it was a perfect day to stroll and watch golf.
Reedie shared his impressions with Around the Rings during an informal chat on the front nine at the Reserva de Marapendi Olympic course.
"Since 1904 it’s been a very long time, the legacy for the sport in this country is fantastic, the golf course is immaculate and lots of the world’s great players are here and thoroughly enjoying the Olympic experience," Reedie said. "All pluses so far."
Ferriani, who was voted in as an IOC member last week, is more accustomed to walking up-and-down bobsleigh courses as opposed to around golf courses. The Italian bobsleigh and skeleton chief said it was a lost opportunity for the 20 or so pro golfers who withdrew from the Rio Games.
"The mistake is from the people who didn’t come," Ferriani said. " The people who are here – somebody will become an Olympic champion.
"Too bad for other people, they missed the chance. It is fantastic here," said the Italian sports leader.
Ferriani said that golf in Brazil will open up new opportunities for the country and the game.
"It’s fantastic for Brazil – you live in another world here – it’s different than being at our fantastic golf club in Torino," Ferriani said. "It’s undiscovered here."
Reedie quickly demonstrated his golf expertise, although he admitted he might have a trying day playing the demanding new Olympic course.
"I wouldn’t want to be off these back tees, I’d want to be off the forward ones – but the fairways look immaculate, the greens look to be very nicely paced and the scores are good – five under after nine or 10 holes," Reedie said.
Reedie reminisced about the IOC session in Denmark in 2009 when golf was accepted back into the Games.
"I can remember the presentation that golf made in 2009 and Padraig Harrington’s wonderful phrase that there are 16 majors between Olympic Games and he wanted to be in the Olympics," Reedie said.
"At that stage too, I was instrumental in encouraging golf to bring as the fourth member of our team, the young 16-year-old Italian named Matteo Manassero and he’s playing in the competition today."
No truth to the rumor that Reedie and Ferriani will be going head-to-head in a match play competition after the Olympics conclude.
Written by Brian Pinelli in Rio de Janeiro.
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