Golfing legends Annika Sorenstam and Colin Montgomerie, along with tour leaders from around the world, are preparing their case for golf’s inclusion in the Olympics starting in 2016.  The group, known as the International Golf Federation (IGF) will present their pitch to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) executive board this coming Monday, in the hopes that golf will make its return to the Olympic games for the first time since 1904.

Colin Montgomerie (Image: Zuma Press)

Golf is competing with baseball, karate, roller sports, rugby sevens, softball and squash for one of two available program spots in the 2016 Olympics and beyond. 

The IGF has proposed that the top 15 players in the world rankings will gain automatic entry to the games, with the remaining spots filled by the highest-ranked players whose countries don’t have two players participating in the field.  Under the IGF proposal, both men and women golfers will play a 72-hole stroke play tournament, with 60 players in the field.  Three-hole playoffs will be used to determine medal placement.

The IGF group has the backing of 19 major tours and amateur federations in 121 countries.  The IOC will make their decision at their annual session in Copenhagen, Denmark.

I am out of commission today (allergies/sick/whatever). Even if I were to workout, I’d probably be doing more harm than good so I’m just going to let my body rest. Hopefully I can get better by tomorrow and get a good weight training session in.

For today’s weight lifting blog , I want to emphasize the importance of safety and lifting within your means. It’s one thing to push yourself, it’s another to lift beyond what you are physically capable of. The video I have for you today might not be the best example of this, but it does give you an idea of what can happen when your mind goes beyond your muscle.

The video is of Janos Baranyai trying to snatch 326.3 pounds in his third lift in the men’s 77-kilogram division. He is unable to handle the weight and his elbow is completely dislocated. Now, snatches aren’t in my normal weight lifting repertoire so improper form could have been the culprit here, but I personally wouldn’t want to get that close to bad technique costing me an arm. And let’s not be mistaken, bad technique is a real possibility when you’re exerting that much force and lifting 236 lbs at 170 lbs.

I’ll warn you now, the following video is graphic and disturbing to watch as his elbow completely comes out of the socket.

Last warning. I did turn my head away after a few angles.

The video should serve a healthy reminder (although it’s different in application) to those trying to lift beyond their physical means that you have to put in the work before you lift the weight. You can’t go from max benching 135 to trying 255 in a week. You need to progress and build the foundation to lift your weight.

Eighteen of the world’s top-ranked golfers this week have spoken out in support of the International Golf Federation’s bid to have golf included as an Olympic sport. Among those advocating the addition is the world’s top golfer, Tiger Woods. Woods wrote a personal note with the 32-page brochure, outlining the bid.

Others supporting the move are Ireland’s Padraig Harrington, Fiji’s Vijay Singh, Colin Montgomerie, and Spain’s Sergio Garcia.

The International Olympic Committee will vote this fall on which two sports will be added to the roster for the 2016 games. Golf has not been an Olympic sport in more than 100 years.

(photo credit: Newscom)