Golf will be a success at the Olympics, with or without Tiger Woods

OLYMPICS chief Thomas Bach has revealed he would “feel sorry” for Tiger Woods if he fails to qualify for Rio 2016.

But the International Olympic Committee (IOC) president insisted that should he fall short, Tiger will miss the Games more than the Games will miss Tiger.

Woods’ years-long slump has continued at the Open, where he last night found himself on the wrong side of the cut for a second successive major.

His poor form has triggered a plummet to number 241 in the world rankings, raising doubts over his ability to qualify for golf’s return to the Olympics next year.

Speaking at St Andrews yesterday, IOC president Bach admitted he had hoped Tiger would make it to Rio.

But he firmly denied losing the American megastar would have a negative impact on the first Olympic golf tournament since 1904.

“It’s a pity for himself,” said Bach.

“For the IOC it’s about the best athletes and we are happy to welcome them, whoever qualifies.

“With Tiger Woods, I had the opportunity to speak with him earlier this year in the States at the skiing world championships.

“I asked him about Rio and told him that I would like to welcome him next year.

“He said: ‘I would love to play and I will do everything to qualify, but I’m not sure whether it will work’.

“Seeing what’s happening here, unfortunately, maybe he was right.

“So I would really feel sorry for him, but this would in no way influence the quality of the Olympic tournament.”

Bach also took aim over golf’s failure to fall in line with Olympic drug testing standards.

Neither the European Tour nor the PGA Tour meet the strict World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) standards required by the IOC but both will step up checks to the required level for Olympic qualifiers from May next year. However, the International Golf Federation (IGF)’s testing programmes are compliant.

He said: “It is clear the players will have to accept Olympic standards during the next year prior to the games and, of course, during the Games.

“That means, for instance, that during the games the first five will be tested on top of the random testing and the targeted testing during the Olympic period.

“They all have to accept it.

“Prior to the Games and from now on, I can only encourage the PGA Tour to finally accept the WADA code and to be compliant with this so you have a harmonised anti-doping regime and a level playing field for all the golfers.”

Asked whether golfers would be subject to the same 24/7 scrutiny as other athletes and whether failed tests would be made public he added: “The answer to the last two questions is yes. They will have the same conditions like all the athletes.”

The IGF said: “Olympic golf will operate under the IGF’s anti-doping policy, which is WADA compliant.

“This will come into effect 13 weeks out from the Olympic Games in Rio.

“From May 6, 2016 through to the conclusion of the Olympic Games there will be a registered testing pool, created and managed by the IGF.

“Male and female golfing athletes will be subject to both urine and blood tests for substances on the WADA prohibited list.”