Adam Scott, the former Masters champion, has confirmed that he won’t be competing in this summer’s Olympics as golf returns to the Games for the first time since 1904.
The 35-year-old Australian has always expressed an indifference to the sport’s inclusion in the quadrennial showpiece and regularly stated that winning a gold medal was “nothing I’ve ever aspired to do.”
In that sense it was perhaps unsurprising when he released a statement confirming that he would be unavailable for selection for Ian Baker-Finch’s Australian golf team.
"My decision has been taken as a result of an extremely busy playing schedule around the time of the Olympics and other commitments, both personal and professional," said Scott of an Olympic tournament that will feature the likes of Jordan Spieth, Rory McIlroy, Jason Day and the women’s world No 1, Lydia Ko.
"I have informed the Australian team captain and relevant authorities, who are understanding of my position and I wish the Australian Olympic Team the very best of luck in Rio."
Golf's inclusion in the Olympics has resulted in a tightly-packed 2016 schedule with just 11 days separating the conclusion of the Open and the start of the US PGA Championship.
Meanwhile, Padraig Harrington has backed a new nine-hole event that will be staged on the Saturday before July’s Open at Royal Troon and has been organised by the Royal & Ancient in an attempt to encourage shorter forms of golf and bolster participation.
In a recent survey by the game’s governing body, 60 per cent of players said they would enjoy golf more if it took less time, with 19 per cent saying they would welcome the opportunity to play nine holes more often. This new event, which is open to men, women, boys and girls, will see 30 players from a series of regional qualifiers contest the inaugural staging on Saturday July 9.
"People who want to play golf are increasingly struggling to find the time to play and so positioning nine hole golf as a legitimate alternative makes a lot of sense,” said Harrington, the two-time Open champion.
On the European Challenge Tour, David Law, Ross Cameron and Peter Whiteford all posted four-under 68s in the opening round of the Red Sea Egyptian Challenge .
That left the the Scottish trio sitting on the fringes of the top-10, five behind English leader Jordan Smith who surged to the front with a sparkling 63.
In California, North Berwick’s Catriona Matthew is back in action at the Swinging Skirts LPGA Classic while the men's European Tour is in China for the Shenzhen Open and the Valero Texas Open tees-off on the PGA Tour.
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