Attorney Michael de Broglio on: South Africa, Law, Politics, Attorneys, Sport, Photography, Technology, Gadgets, Media, Crime, Road Accidents Fund,
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The golf at the Olympics was a huge success. In fact, let’s quote Gary Player on the golfers who decided not to show up for the Olympics, “Their excuses for missing look pretty feeble now.” What impressed me the most was the bronze medal winner, Matt Kuchar, who had after all come third, giving interviews for hours. His parents were phoned to ask how proud they were of their son winning a medal at the Olympics, etc. He has won numerous PGA events before and he would have come second and third a number of times without anybody bothering to phone his parents – in fact, they don’t phone your parents when you normally win a weekly PGA event, even though the prize money is typically about $1,2 million. It just shows you how important the Olympics are in that regard and there is no doubt, as I wrote in a blog some weeks ago, before the Olympics, that those who missed out on the Olympics now feel pretty stupid.
Some of them of course will not be good enough, or highly enough rated in four years’ time to get a chance again and so for some of them it is a once in a lifetime opportunity that has gone missing. Three South African golfers who would have qualified this time were Brandon Grace, Louis Oosthuizen and Charl Schwartzel and it will be very interesting to see, because guaranteed one or two of those will miss out in four years’ time, who it is going to be that will now never get a chance to take part in an Olympics, to represent their country, to take part in opening and closing ceremonies and to mix with the superstar athletes of the world, from a variety of different sports. In fact, Jordan Spieth, the number two player in the world, took all of about 1 hour, after the men’s Olympic golf finished, to tweet that he will be working hard to make sure he gets to go next time. That does not exactly reflect any confidence in those who advised him not to go or his own decision to accept that advice and not turn up. At the end of the day, irony of ironies the gold medal was won by Justin Rose. The British National Anthem played, he collected his gold medal and once again, he is yet another athlete, although he left a long time ago when he was a small child, born and bred in Johannesburg.
Posted by Michael de Broglio on Thursday 13-Oct-16
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Comments
Tersia said:
on Friday 21-Oct-16 10:10 AM
I think it would have been a great opportunity to have gone to the Olympics, I wish I was good in any sport than I would definitely have tried my best to be there. Those golfers must feel some sort of regret for not going. As they say in Afrikaans: "Spyt kom altyd te laat".
latoya said:
on Wednesday 19-Oct-16 02:22 PM
Well done to all the people who took medals home you all deserve it.There is always a nect time for sure!! ONce again well done to all the other. Olympics are great!
Dune said:
on Tuesday 18-Oct-16 01:46 PM
What an opportunity to be picked for the team to compete in the Olympics, to represent your country, to fulfil you dream, to be part of the best atmosphere that anyone can ever imagine. Why give up such an opportunity is beyond me! But I am sure that they are regretting it now!
charlotte said:
on Tuesday 18-Oct-16 09:24 AM
Opportunities like the Olympics don't come around very often, and when they do, one has to grab it and make the best of it. It's sorry to see that some golfers decided not to take that opportunity, but, on the other hand, it gave others an opportunity to take part. Life is full of opportunities, if you snooze, you'll loose.
Sally said:
on Monday 17-Oct-16 04:37 PM
Each person makes his or her choices due to their own circumstances and none of us can blame or criticize them as none of us know their circumstances or reasoning behind their choices in life
Melissa said:
on Monday 17-Oct-16 03:45 PM
It is the decision of the golfer whether he wants to play golf in the Olympics or not. Everyone has their own circumstances as to why they can or cannot do something and it is only their decision. No one should feel the need to explain themselves. Maybe, also as their preference, they did not take part in the Olympics due to the vast amount of stress that would incur on them, so they maybe avoided it for that reason.
Catherine said:
on Monday 17-Oct-16 03:28 PM
There is always a lesson to be learnt from missed chances. One needs to develop a culture of taking every opportunity that avails to oneself the first time round lest we regret later. Crying over spilt milk doesn't help!
Brenda van den Bergh said:
on Monday 17-Oct-16 02:49 PM
That was an opportunity missed, and if the opportunity never comes again, which in all likelihood it will not, then one cannot complaint. You cannot get far in life, if you have an excuse for every little thing, but then you cannot run someone down for achieving something you say you would have achieved better.
daria said:
on Monday 17-Oct-16 02:15 PM
I am sure the golfers who missed out are regretting it now, but well done to all the golfers who did go and did great.
Jolene said:
on Monday 17-Oct-16 02:09 PM
Well done to Matt Kuchar, I think just to be part of the Olympics is an awesome experience. Im sure the other players regret their decision now and realized theyve missed out on great opportunity.
nicolle said:
on Monday 17-Oct-16 02:09 PM
I am sure that the golfers who missed out on their opportunity to play gold at the olympicsare kicking themselves in the foot. But then again, each have their own reason and each person is entitled to the decision they make or don't make
Liesl said:
on Monday 17-Oct-16 01:48 PM
It was a hard choice to make and I guess it's always easy to second guess after the fact. Well done to those who dived in regardless and made a success of the opportunity they were given and grabbed.
Sandra said:
on Monday 17-Oct-16 01:26 PM
Quite impressed that some golfers are so good. I did not, however know that some would miss out on an opportunity to play
tamzyn said:
on Monday 17-Oct-16 01:15 PM
Although I did not follow the Golf at the Olympics, I feel that the Golfers missed out on a good opportunity, and I am sure most of the regret it.
brumilde said:
on Monday 17-Oct-16 09:12 AM
OOh wow i didnt even know they had golf at the olympics, wonder what other sport they will now add. must admit i have no hand eye coordination hence i never played hockey... but if the ball was bigger i might be able to give it a swing
Zanell said:
on Monday 17-Oct-16 08:44 AM
I'm sure that all those golfers who stayed at home regret it. Wonder if they will be able to play in 4 years again and if they would be good enough to qaulify
Sinead said:
on Friday 14-Oct-16 04:42 PM
What a shame for those who didn't compete... If you have the opportunity to do something, you should do it! Don't wait for the next one... Even though age isn't a really big deal with golf. Anything could happen in 4 years and you will have missed your chance to compete.
Nicolle said:
on Friday 14-Oct-16 03:50 PM
These so-called golfers have clearly never heard of people like Eddie The Eagle. They should have watched the film. Inspired by true events, Eddie the Eagle is a feel-good story about Michael Eddie Edwards, an unlikely but courageous British ski-jumper who never stopped believing in himself even as an entire nation was counting him out. With the help of a rebellious and charismatic coach, Eddie takes on the establishment and wins the hearts of sports fans around the world by making an improbable and historic showing at the 1988 Calgary Winter Olympics. Eddie, the loveable underdog with a never say die attitude. - This would have inspired them to be the best possible versions of themselves and to take part of the privilege that is the Olympics.
Helen said:
on Friday 14-Oct-16 10:09 AM
Well Done to all players who took medals home, their country will be proud and there are new doors will open for lucky golfers. Yes it is sad that the best SA golfers withdraw themselves from Olympics, but i think the main reason of them not going to Rio is not Zika virus, because there were no money to be won, LOL
Juliet said:
on Friday 14-Oct-16 09:45 AM
I said before it is a terrible disappointment that our athletes chose not to participate. I think they were ill advised and made bad decisions. What a huge missed opportunity for them and us as their supporters. I really wish the SA culture of excuses would dwindle away somehow...
Joyce said:
on Thursday 13-Oct-16 04:51 PM
congratulations! to Matt Kuchar by not skipping the Olympics and winning himself a medal at the Olympics
Prishani said:
on Thursday 13-Oct-16 04:36 PM
I am sure they regret not giving it a try, in the sporting world a lot can change in 4 years, like health and sportsman are prone to picking up possible injuries! I hope for their sake that they have a second chance in 4 years time.
Thabitha said:
on Thursday 13-Oct-16 02:15 PM
Four years is a long time maybe some of them will never have the opportunity again to present the country, congratulations to those who take part.
Angelique Jurgens said:
on Thursday 13-Oct-16 01:30 PM
I think it is so disappointing that they didn't go due to their own choice. No one knows what will happen tomorrow let alone in 4 years... I think even they don't admit it that they might just regret it even just a little bit.
Mathilda said:
on Thursday 13-Oct-16 12:18 PM
if i had the opportunity to go to the Olympics ill definitely go, this opportunity comes once in a lifetime and with the next Olympics there will be other favorites and you might not even make the cut.
So if i were them i would be kicking myself
Suzanne said:
on Thursday 13-Oct-16 11:30 AM
I would be kicking myself now if I was one of them. I am sure taking part in this event is a once in a lifetime experience and can also open so many doors, why miss out? Their excuses were poor and seems very insignificant at this stage.
Daniella said:
on Thursday 13-Oct-16 11:14 AM
Just to be considered for the Olympics is such an achievement and a huge compliment, I would never turn an opportunity like that down, because who knows you could break world records and get sponsored for the rest of your life.
Alexis said:
on Thursday 13-Oct-16 10:14 AM
Opportunity missed and you can blame yourself for that. It was never done, and then finally it gets done and you miss it and for what. Congrats to thos whom did compete.
Nina said:
on Thursday 13-Oct-16 09:04 AM
Can't see why some of the players aren't interested in this event. seeing that it only comes up once every four years, there is a good chance that you will only be able to attend the event once or twice if you are lucky. I think if you get the opportunity you should definetely grab it with both hands.
lucretia said:
on Thursday 13-Oct-16 08:45 AM
Good luck to those who went and made a success.
Angelique P said:
on Thursday 13-Oct-16 08:40 AM
I think its an experience of a lifetime and you never know if you will be good enough to compete in 4 years time. There are so much new, better players each year that will maybe replace the older players.
I know that its lots of hours practicing and playing thousands of golf courses to be where they are now.
Well done to Justin Rose and all of the other players that competed.
Bianca said:
on Thursday 13-Oct-16 08:38 AM
The golfers that did not attend the Olympics for whatever reason missed an amazing opportunity and I am almost certain that most of them, if not all of them, regret their decision to not partake. You will never know if you don't try and they didn't even bother to take the leap.
Jessica Apfel said:
on Thursday 13-Oct-16 08:14 AM
In all honesty I did think that the reasons that these players posed were really poor - sheer ignorance if you ask me. The Zika virus seemed to be the favourite. I did not follow the golf at the Olympics - Olympics is such a tremendous international platform and some upcoming golfers did miss out on this opportunity.
Johannesburg based attorney specializing in personal injury matters including Road Accident Fund claims and medical negligence matters. My interests include golf, reading and the internet and the way it is constantly developing. I have a passion for life and a desire for less stress!
