Golf Test Event Proving Tough to Finalize

(ATR) A packed Professional Golf Association tour schedule and limited interest could scale down the scope of the Rio 2016 golf test event.

A spokesperson from the Rio 2016 organizing committee tells Around the Rings that the length of the competition is still in the works for the test event. The organizing committee and the International Golf Federation are continuing negotiations for the event, scheduled to take place in March.

Meanwhile, the PGA Tour continues to struggle to recruit golfers to make the trip down to South America for a proposed Mar. 8 date. Rio 2016 could not confirm the proposed PGA date, and the IGF could not return requests for comment.

"We've got a good list of players who are interested in coming, but we don't have a long list of players who are committed to coming," Tim Finchem, PGA Tour Commissioner, said to the AP.

"I think it's probably most important to get international players. We don't know how it's going to wind up."

The main issue for the PGA is the number of events scheduled for March. A tournament is scheduled for each weekend, and many golfers are wary of disrupting their preparation for The Masters on Apr. 7-10.

Finchem said sponsors of events are worried about golfers pulling out to travel to Rio for a one-day test event. The ladies, Asian, and European tours have dates scheduled near the proposed Mar. 8 event, complicating matters further.

"We want to get some good players on there so if there are things we're not seeing," Finchem added. "They see things you didn't notice. So we want to get that done."

The delivery of the golf course for the Rio Olympics has been fraught with controversy. Environmental groups originally tried to block the construction of the course, asking for holes to be moved to accommodate the wildlife in the area. One hole was eventually moved, and a wildlife corridor was created on the course. Eventually the lawsuits were thrown out paving way for the course to be completed and handed over.

Written by Aaron Bauer in Rio de Janeiro

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