Golf's re-introduction at the Olympics hasn't even happened yet, and there is already many column inches dedicated to the Zika virus, and other withdrawals.
While the absence of the world's top four from the sport's return to the Games hasn't helped, some of the comments from golfers still playing in Rio won't improve the game's image.
Matt Kuchar, who is part of Team USA as the fourth member and 15th ranked player - only got in after Dustin Johnson and Jordan Speith withdrew. Because of his last minute inclusion, Kuchar could be forgiven for being not knowing enough about the format of golf in the Olympics:
This is amazing: Just asked Matt Kuchar about Olympics. He thought it was team format. Didn't know individual stroke play. And he's playing.
— Jason Sobel (@JasonSobelTAN) August 3, 2016
It was in a press conference. Talked with him afterward, too. He really thought there was a team component to the format.
— Jason Sobel (@JasonSobelTAN) August 3, 2016
Unfortunately Kuchar is wrong, this isn't going to be a Ryder Cup format. To be honest, it almost feels like golf is missing a trick here by not having a team format in the Olympics, be it mixed or separate men's/women's tournaments.
To be clear, it's a straight up individual strokeplay played out over four rounds - the exact same as almost every other golf tournament you've ever seen.
