AUGUSTA, Ga. -- Phil Mickelson as Lord of the Rings?
OK, before anybody has any nightmarish visions of Phil on the parallel bars or wearing a rhythmic dance outfit, rest assured we're talking about golf, here.
The second-ranked player in the world said Tuesday that he would not only welcome the inclusion of golf in the Olympics, he would gladly play as part of the United States contingent.
Heck, he'd sing the national anthem if asked. For years, there's been a dialog about whether the game should be included in the games, and there are good arguments on both sides as to whether it's necessary. Some question what format should be used if it ever happens, be it a team, match-play or stroke-play affair.
But from Lefty's perspective, adding it to the game might be the most important push the game has received globally in years. No question, he makes some good points.
"I think that the game of golf has to grow on an international level, and as soon as it becomes an Olympic sport, a lot of those Olympic foundation (developmental) revenue dollars will be going to get kids from other countries involved in the game of golf so that they are competitive at the Olympics," he said Tuesday. "I think that would be the biggest step we could make in helping growing the game.
"We seem to be stagnant in the growth; we lose as many golfers as we gain each year in the United States. If we could make this an Olympic sport on the international stage, I think golf could really grow as a sport."
Say this for Mickelson -- he might do some dunderheaded things at times, but he knows where his bread is buttered. If not who needs buttering up.
The chairman at Augusta National, Billy Payne, was the major domo at the Atlanta Olympic Games in 1996. I don't know what the most ideal format has been. I do think that having golf become an Olympic sport is a very important thing for the game of golf, and I would definitely play if given the opportunity to represent my country.