Dustin Johnson’s manager confirmed the player’s decision to skip the Olympics, choosing to focus on the FedEx Cup playoffs.
The 2020 Olympics golf tournament has its first confirmed no-show: Dustin Johnson. The world No. 5 plans to focus instead on the FedEx Cup playoffs rather than pursue a gold medal in Tokyo in July.
Johnson’s manager, David Winkle, confirmed the decision to Golfweek on Monday. “Dustin gave the Olympics a great deal of thought and we discussed the pros and cons of him participating at length,” Winkle wrote in an e-mail.
“At the end of the day, it’s a matter of personal preference and priority. As much as he would be honored to be an Olympian, the FedEx Cup Playoffs are also very important to him. Having had a few close calls in the Playoffs, he really wants to win them before his time is done and feels that he wouldn’t be giving himself the best opportunity to do so if he added lengthy international trip just prior to their beginning (and shortly after returning from two weeks in Europe).”
Johnson will compete in the Open Championship July 16-19 at Royal St. George’s, where he almost won in 2011. The first round of the Olympics competition at Kasumigaseki Golf Club takes place July 30. The first FedEx Cup playoff event begins 11 days after the Olympics ends with the Northern Trust in Boston.
Four Americans will qualify to compete in the Games based on the world golf ranking. Currently Johnson is in the third team spot behind Brooks Koepka and Justin Thomas. Koepka himself recently downplayed the importance of the Olympics, saying he views golf’s four major championships and the FedEx Cup as more important to him.
“We’ll see where everything else falls,” Koepka said, suggesting that he might also skip the trip to Tokyo. With Johnson confirmed out and Koepka sounding ambivalent, that could mean two men not currently in the top four Americans might qualify to join Thomas and Patrick Cantlay in Japan: Webb Simpson and Patrick Reed, who are the fifth and sixth-ranked U.S. players. The seventh-ranked American on that list: Tiger Woods.
It’s more important that Tiger be ready for the four majors, even if it means fans at Bay Hill and Tokyo are disappointed.
The announcements came 24 hours apart, and while differing in gravity both served to illustrate the narrowing focus of legends in their waning years.
On Thursday, 38-year-old Roger Federer revealed he’d had knee surgery and would be out until the summer grass court season. A day later, his old Gillette commercials co-star, 44-year-old Tiger Woods, said he’s skipping this week’s Arnold Palmer Invitational owing to a rusty back. Both decisions were made with an eye on the prizes that matter most: Wimbledon for Federer, the Masters for Woods.
While Federer will miss one major — the annual Rafa Nadal coronation formerly known as the French Open — Woods won’t, but the paring of his schedule bodes ill for an event that could use the energy injection he provides: Olympic golf. The top 15 in the world ranking qualify for the Games in Tokyo. Woods is currently No. 10, but a maximum of four golfers are allowed from each nation and there are five Americans ahead of him, raising the specter that he’ll be out in the cold in the race for gold.
This of course assumes the Games proceed unfettered by the fallout from coronavirus, which is far from certain. I asked the vice president of the International Golf Federation, Ty Votaw, about fears the Olympics might be cancelled. “As far as the IGF is concerned, we are committed to doing everything we can to ensure successful men’s and women’s golf competitions in the 2020 Tokyo Games,” came his commendably upbeat and characteristically tenebrous reply.
The Games won’t need Woods to be successful, but Olympic golf would undeniably benefit from his presence. If nothing else, Woods competing would go some way to erasing the air of apathy that attended golf’s return in Rio four summers ago, when many players stayed home, ostensibly for fear of the Zika virus. But even Woods can’t alter the reality of where gold for golf ranks.
An Olympic gold medal ought to be the pinnacle of achievement in a sport, and in most it is. But in golf, as in tennis, that gold might rank (at best) fifth among the prizes competitors most want to own, lower if you consider the Players Championship and FedEx Cup. Brooks Koepka admitted as much last month. ”To me, the four majors are definitely more important, and the FedEx Cup, too, is a goal of mine,” he said. “We’ll see where everything else falls.”
Olympic athletes don’t usually say offhandedly that they’ll see where the Games fall in the list of priorities. But then, Olympians wait four years for the podium while golfers have four a year.
The ripple effects of Woods’ increasingly limited schedule extend beyond disappointed fans at Bay Hill and perhaps Tokyo. He said last month that his goal is to play roughly a dozen events a year, which wouldn’t recommend him for the prospective Premier Golf League splinter circuit. The CEO of the League has acknowledged there isn’t much wiggle room for golfers to play fewer than the 18 proposed but non-existent tournaments on the proposed but non-existent tour. And lengthy flights to fulfill such an extensive global schedule won’t much appeal to Woods either, even if he’s not flying in the arse end of a commercial airliner.
Tiger’s decision to skip Bay Hill for the second straight year is not conclusively cause for concern — he missed 2019 with a neck strain but that didn’t hamper him at Augusta National a month later — but nor is it grounds for optimism if he’s too physically compromised to play a flat golf course on which he has won eight times. It’s simply a sign of the new reality we must live with — that Woods’ appearances on the PGA Tour will, like papal audiences, be much sought after and highly anticipated, but sparingly granted.
What remains of Woods’ career, like that of Federer, is now about prioritizing. If he doesn’t qualify for Tokyo, that would in truth be a minor blip for the Games of the XXXII Olympiad. His absence from one of golf’s major championships would be much more impactful. So if the feast Woods provides must be rationed, then let golf fans eat and the Games go hungry.
The IOC has a deadline for deciding the status of the Tokyo Olympics.
We’re just a few weeks away from the start of the Olympic torch relay in Greece, which begins with the flame lighting ceremony in Olympia on March 12th – but the outbreak of the novel coronavirus, which continues to spread around the world, has left many wondering whether the 2020 Tokyo Games could be at risk of a postponement or cancellation.
The 2020 Olympics are scheduled to open on July 24th, and according to International Olympic Committee senior member Dick Pound, we should know by late May whether the Games will occur this summer. In an interview with the Associated Press, Pound said that the scale of the event makes any kind of postponement impossible, and that if action needs to be taken to protect attendees, the Games will likely be cancelled.
“In and around that time, I’d say folks are going to have to ask: ‘Is this under sufficient control that we can be confident about going to Tokyo or not?'”
The Olympics have never been cancelled due to a health concern – though some athletes chose not to compete in the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro due to the Zika virus. The Olympics have been cancelled five times in the past, due to World War I and World War II.
According to Pound, though, the IOC expects the Olympics and the Paralympics to continue as scheduled.
“As far as we all know, you’re going to be in Tokyo. All indications are at this stage that it will be business as usual. So keep focused on your sport and be sure that the IOC is not going to send you into a pandemic situation.”
Steve Kerr says it’s “still a possibility” Klay Thompson plays for Team USA in the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.
The Golden State Warriors officially announced Klay Thompson would miss the entirety of the 2019-20 season due to a knee injury he suffered in the 2019 NBA Finals.
Thompson won’t play a game for the Warriors this season, but there is still a chance he could lace-up for Team USA over the summer. Thompson was named to the 44-man preliminary roster for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics edition of Team USA basketball.
Thompson’s chances of making the final 12-man Olympic roster hinges on the health of his knee. As the injured “Splash Brother” is progressing through his rehab, the possibility of Thompson playing in the Olympics hasn’t been ruled out.
Before the Warriors played the Houston Rockets, Steve Kerr spoke to reporters, offering insight on Thompson’s chances of making Team USA.
It’s not off the table — it’s still a possibility. We haven’t really discussed it. I think the team meets in July, so it’s still quite aways away, but it’s really not anything we’re discussing at this point. It’s just still a possibility.
Steve Kerr said it’s still possible Klay Thompson competes in Olympics. He hasn’t seen Klay sprinting/jumping yet, but he will increasingly do more on the floor, behind the scenes, in upcoming weeks, as season nears an end. pic.twitter.com/DGJhFTzR8b
According to Marc Stein of The New York Times, Thompson is still in contention for a roster spot on Team USA as he continues to rehab his knee.
Thompson, though, remains in contention for a spot on the United States' 12-man roster for the Tokyo Olympics. @usabasketball will finalize that roster in June and Klay is said to be making good progress in his recovery from a torn left ACL in Game 6 of last season's NBA Finals
If Thompson’s knee is fully recovered in time for Team USA’s trip to Tokyo, it’ll be his second appearance in the Summer Games. Thompson was apart of Team USA’s run to gold in the 2016 Olympics in Brazil.
Thompson tallied 9.9 points, 2.5 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 21 minutes per contest in the 2016 Olympic Games.
Paul is one of 44 players on the list released by USA Basketball. He’s already a two-time Olympian, winning gold in 2008 and 2012.
Chris Paul is one step closer to being an Olympian again.
Paul was one of the 44 finalists for the US Men’s basketball team that was announced by USA basketball on Monday morning.
Should he be selected for the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, it would be Paul’s third Olympic appearance, his first since 2012.
Paul won gold medals as part of Team USA at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing and the 2012 Olympics in London.
He’s a perfect 16-0 in Olympic play, averaging 8.3 points, 3.1 rebounds, 4.6 assists, and 2.3 steals across both tournaments.
According to the Thunder, “with the 2012 U.S. Olympic team in London, Paul started in each game and grabbed a team-best 20 steals. In Beijing in 2008, he led the team with 33 assists and ranked second with 18 steals.”
Paul is one of the most experienced players on the finalists list.
He’s played in 50 international games in his career, including the 2006 FIBA World Cup in Japan where he brought home a bronze medal.
Also on the list are former Thunder players Russell Westbrook, Kevin Durant, and James Harden.
In his first year in Oklahoma City, Paul is having a resurgence. He was just selected to the 10th All-Star Game of his career, averaging 17.2 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 6.6 assists this season.
The 2020 Olympic Games being on Friday, July 24 and last through Sunday, Aug. 9.
Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson may be injured right now but everyone knows how dominant the duo are when healthy.
Team USA’s men’s basketball team made good on their promise to have every superstar to their 44-man preliminary roster for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Along with NBA luminaries like Kawhi Leonard, LeBron James and Russell Westbrook, Team USA has listed the Golden State Warriors’ iconic duo of Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson — the Splash Brothers — along with fiery, versatile forward Draymond Green.
Curry has only played in five games this season (though he’s expecting to return in early March) and Thompson hasn’t played at all this season (but will be re-evaluated around the All-Star Break), with the duo rehabbing a broken hand and a torn ACL, respectively. However, there’s no doubt that when healthy they’re two of the most dominant players in the league and the two best outside threats in the league as well.
It’s, frankly, more likely that Curry participates in the Olympic Games than Thompson due to the differences in the severity of their injury and the latter’s cautious approach to his injury rehab. However, Team USA would undoubtedly love to have both available and if healthy they would be shoo-ins to make the final 12-man roster. Interestingly enough, it would be Klay’s second time as an Olympian while it would be Steph’s first.
Green could also be named as an Olympian for the first time, although his ability to make the final 12-man roster is far from guaranteed, especially with players like LeBron, Jayson Tatum, Gordon Hayward, Kevin Love and Tobias Harris all battling it out at power forward.
As a center, Draymond would be attempting to beat out the likes of Andre Drummond, LaMarcus Aldridge, Bam Adebayo and Brook Lopez. A far easier task than the former but still plenty of competition.
Green is the lone member of the Warriors core that’s been healthy throughout the 2019-20 season, averaging 8.4 points, 6.3 rebounds, 6.1 assists, 1.4 steals and 0.8 steals per game but struggling from the field with a true shooting percentage of 49.1 (his worst since his rookie season).
The Boston Celtics are tied with the Los Angeles Lakers for the most players named to Team USA’s 44-man preliminary roster for the 2020 Olympic Games.
Team USA’s men’s basketball team has announced their official 44-man preliminary roster for the 2020 Olympic Games, which will be held in Tokyo.
Unsurprisingly, the Celtics will be heavily represented, with five players — tied with the Los Angeles Lakers for the league-high— named to the roster: guards Kemba Walker and Marcus Smart, along with forwards Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown and Gordon Hayward.
It may have been easy to assume that the first four Celtics named would be on the roster after playing for Team USA in last summer’s qualifiers and earning the praise of Team USA men’s basketball head coach Gregg Popovich (of the San Antonio Spurs).
However, the addition of Hayward, who has looked much like he did in his prime after overcoming a horrific leg and ankle injury that seemed to rob some of his athleticism — and thus his effectiveness — last season, was not predicted. Such an honor is vindication for Hayward, an intelligent playmaker who’s averaging 17.1 points, 6.5 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 0.7 steals per game this season while shooting 51.2 percent from the field and 38.7 percent from three (and has looked both healthy and athletic while doing so).
Tatum and Brown are also having career seasons with the former seeming to have taken on the mantle of being the best player on the team and the face of the Celtics after the offseason departure of the disgruntled Kyrie Irving.
Tatum is averaging a team-high 22.9 points, 6.9 rebounds, 1.3 steals and 0.9 blocks per game while shooting 44.1 percent from the field and 38.7 percent from three. He’s developed a go-to shot — a sidestep three-pointer — and is more aggressive in attacking the rim then in past seasons. Tatum’s defense, never highlighted as a particular strength of his game, has been quite effective as well. Suffice it to say, with such a strong performance, it’s no surprise that Tatum was named as an All-Star this season.
Brown is a better finisher, ball-handler, shooter and passer than last season. Those improvements have led the renaissance man to averages of 20.2 points, 6.5 rebounds and 1.1 steals per game while shooting 49.4 percent from the field and 37.7 percent from three.
Walker, the leader that Boston sorely needed last season, has averaged 22.0 points, 5.0 assists, 4.0 rebounds and 1.0 steal per game while acquitting himself from the common perception that he was a poor defender. The Celtics’ second All-Star this season, Walker has shot 43.6 percent from the field and 39.1 percent from three-point range.
Smart, whose play can’t be summed up with statistics due to the effort he plays with and his gritty, never-say-die, attitude, continues to be the heart and soul of the Celtics team. While the four previously listed players will likely play an important role on offense (and defense), Smart is going to be fine doing the dirty work. However, that doesn’t mean he can’t make plays when needed, as the veteran guard has averaged 12.2 points, 4.8 assists, 3.5 rebounds and 1.6 steals per game.
Though not every player may not make it into Team USA’s finalized roster, this quintet has as good a chance of any of surviving training camp and taking part in the Olympic Games next summer. No matter who makes it or who doesn’t, the Celtics have certainly made their home fans proud this season; their having five players named to the Team USA preliminary roster is just icing on the cake.
Answering key questions about the upcoming Olympic Games.
The start of 2020 means we’re officially in an Olympics year with the Summer Games going to Tokyo, as the city hosts its first Summer Olympics since 1964. The last time Japan hosted the Olympics in general was in 1998 with the Winter Games in Nagano.
The 2020 Summer Olympics begin July 24 and end August 9. Although those are also the dates of the Opening and Closing Ceremonies, soccer and softball will begin competition on July 22. The Paralympic Games begin August 25 and end September 6.
The 2020 Tokyo Summer Games follow 2016 in Rio, 2012 in London, 2008 in Beijing, 2004 in Athens and 2000 in Sydney. Additionally, Paris will host the 2024 Olympics, while the 2028 Games will be in Los Angeles.
Although the Olympics are still several months away, we’re answering some basic questions about what will happen in Tokyo this summer.
What are the new sports for the 2020 Olympics?
EPA-EFE/KIMIMASA MAYAMA
There are five new sports for the 2020 Tokyo Games, but some are familiar to mainstream sports fans. Baseball and softball, karate, skateboarding, sport climbing and surfing will be part of the 2020 Summer Olympics. Although basketball certainly isn’t new, the 3×3 discipline is for these Games.
Overall, there are 33 sports and 50 disciplines with 165 events for men, 156 for women and 18 mixed or open events.
What is the time difference between the U.S. and Japan?
In the summer, Tokyo is 13 hours ahead of Eastern Time and 16 hours ahead of Pacific Time. So events that begin in the morning locally will be in prime time on the East Coast.
What are the venues for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics?
Eight new venues — including the Tokyo National Stadium, where the Opening and Closing Ceremonies, athletics events and some soccer will be held — are being constructed. Thirty-five existing venues will be used, including some from past Games in Japan such as the Nippon Budokkan for judo, the Baji Koen Park for equestrian events and the Yoyogi National Gymnasium for handball.
EPA-EFE/KIMIMASA MAYAMA
How many times has Japan hosted the Olympics?
The 2020 Summer Games will mark the fourth time Japan has hosted the Olympics, following Tokyo in 1964 (Summer), Sapporo in 1972 (Winter) and Nagano in 1998 (Winter).
What are the logos for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics?
tokyo2020.org
Known as the harmonized checkered emblem, this pattern became known as ichimatsu moyo during Japan’s Edo Period from 1603-1867, and the logo represents the Games’ message of unity in diversity. More from Tokyo2020.org:
[T]his chequered design in the traditional Japanese colour of indigo blue expresses a refined elegance and sophistication that exemplifies Japan.
Composed of three varieties of rectangular shapes, the design represents different countries, cultures and ways of thinking. It incorporates the message of “unity in diversity”.
What are the mascots for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics?
Tokyo 2020 Olympic mascot Miraitowa, left, and Paralympic mascot Someity. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
The Olympic mascot is named Miraitowa, which was chosen to celebrate a future of “eternal hope in the hearts of people all over the world,” according to the Olympics official website. The name is rooted in two Japanese words: mirai, or future, and towa, meaning eternity.
With its traditional and futurist style, the mascot embodies both the old and the new, echoing the concept of “innovation from harmony”. Its forehead bears the emblem of the Tokyo 2020 Games, whose traditional chessboard motif is composed of indigo blue rectangles of three different sizes.
The Paralympic mascot is named Someity, which is derived from the word someiyoshino, a popular type of cherry blossom, according to the Paralympic website. More via Paralympic.org:
Someity has tactile cherry blossom sensors and exhibits enormous mental and physical strength. It represents Paralympic athletes who overcome obstacles and redefine the boundaries of what is possible.
What is the Olympic motto?
The Olympic motto is simple: Citius, Altius, Fortius. The translation from Latin means: Faster, Higher, Stronger. It was adopted in 1894, the same time the International Olympic Committee was created.
The Olympic creed is: “The important thing in life is not the triumph, but the fight; the essential thing is not to have won, but to have fought well.”
When is the next Winter Olympics?
Beijing will host the 2022 Winter Olympics and will become the first city to host both Summer and Winter Games.
Ben Simmons’ decision on whether to participate in the 2020 Olympics or not will now come with increased scrutiny.
The Philadelphia 76ers are now firmly entrenched in the NBA season, but Tuesday provided some non-NBA news as it was announced that head coach Brett Brown would be named the coach of Australia’s national team, leading it in the 2020 Olympics.
While that’s great news for Brown, the announcement could have some implications for the Sixers. As you probably know, Sixers’ star Ben Simmons is an Australian and was slated to play for the national team in last summer’s FIBA World Cup before pulling out to focus on his training for the upcoming NBA season.
So, it’s fair to wonder if Simmons’ decision on whether to participate in the 2020 Olympics serves as a barometer for his relationship with his head coach.
On the surface, it would seem that Simmons would be thrilled to join his NBA coach with an opportunity to represent his country at the Olympics. You would think that giving Brown the position would help to entice Simmons to play, and it’s hard not to believe that line of thinking didn’t play a role in the Australian’s decision making.
All indications are that the relationship between Simmons and Brown is a good one, and one would think that the scenario described above will come to fruition.
It’s also worth noting that Simmons indicated he plans on playing in the Olympics when he announced his decision to skip the World Cup.
But what if Simmons still elects not to play?
In fairness, he would have a number of legitimate reasons to not participate. He could cite his health/desire to rest, or, like last summer, choose to focus on preparations for his NBA season. Still, electing not to play would create some speculation about his relationship with his head coach.
There are a lot of factors that will ultimately play into Simmons’ decision, not the least of which is how this Sixers season ultimately plays out and how far into the spring and (hopefully) summer the team plays. A lot can change over the course of an NBA season, and frankly, the team’s play through 13 games has produced more questions than answers.
Regardless, Sixers fans will be keeping a close eye on Simmons’ decision regarding the Olympics next summer. If he elects not to play, expect the speculation to run wild. [lawrence-related id=19539,19486,19418,19363]
