IOC Adds Golf (and Rugby) to 2016 Olympic Games

It would appear that Tiger Woods has more pull with the IOC than Barack Obama. Or that they just like golf more than Chicago.

After lobbying for the committee to add golf to the 2016 Olympic Games early Friday, the IOC responded by doing just that. Golf has not been part of the Games for over a century. They also decided to add rugby, which is kind of awesome because -- YAY -- violence.

More from Fox Sports’ Gene Yasuda (apparently Ted Williams’ frozen head was unavailable):

The much-anticipated addition became official Friday when International Olympic Committee members in Copenhagen, Denmark, voted in favor of golf’s inclusion along with rugby sevens. The two sports received the approval of the IOC Executive Board in August, but weren’t guaranteed admission until they won the entire IOC’s support. [...]

Focus, however, now quickly shifts to finding an appropriate venue for golf’s return. For all of its natural beauty, Rio is not a golf destination. It may have approximately 100 courses, but it’s questionable whether any of them are truly championship caliber. Only one within the city’s borders might meet competition criteria, and two other courses in the surrounding region could warrant consideration.

Limited options explain why there’s already much discussion about building a new facility, and that could lead to PGA Tour Golf Course Properties unveiling a TPC-branded layout in Rio, Golfweek has learned.

“It’s a possibility,” confirmed David Pillsbury, president and chief operating officer of PGA Tour Golf Course Properties. “We will be evaluating all the courses in Rio de Janeiro and talking to prospective partners in Rio about building something similar to TPC San Antonio, with a resort, a couple golf courses and a location that would be ideal to the Olympic city.”