OAKVILLE, Ont. — Golf’s long-awaited return to the Olympics has been dominated so far by the news that many of the world’s best on the men’s side won’t be attending.
So was it ever refreshing to watch the announcement of Team Canada’s four golfers on Tuesday at Glen Abbey Golf Course. One of them will even have a former NHLer on his bag.
A fresh-faced Graham DeLaet, who recently shaved off a Joe Thornton playoff-like beard because his 8-month-old twins were yanking on it and he wanted to snuggle up to them, sat on the course-side stage Tuesday and immediately put to rest any concern that some of the world’s best golfers aren’t fired up about Rio, which opens in 17 days.
“It should be a privilege to represent your country, not a chore,” the 34-year-old from Weyburn, Sask., said, to applause. “I wouldn’t miss it for anything.”
It’s DeLaet, ranked 140th in the world, who’ll be caddied by former NHLer Ray Whitney, who won the Stanley Cup in 2006 with Carolina.
DeLaet is joined on Team Canada by world No. 130 David Hearn, Alena Sharp (85) and Brooke Henderson (2). Henderson, the 18-year-old who won her first major this season and the third LPGA event of her career, represents Canada’s best shot at hardware in Rio.
Henderson was in Calgary, but she appeared at the event in Oakville via satellite, flanked by kids on a golf course at an academy she’s running.
“Having golf back in the Olympics is huge,” Henderson said. “I think it’s huge for Canada, it’s huge for the whole world … I’ve had an awesome season so far and I’m hoping to cap it off with a gold medal down in Rio.”
DeLaet, in his new Team Canada jacket, added: “Being Canadian, there’s a certain pride, and I don’t know if we have more pride than other countries, but this is a privilege to wear this across your chest.”
The men’s field won’t include a lot of top-end talent as it’s missing the world’s top four in Jason Day, Dustin Johnson, Jordan Spieth and Rory McIlroy.
“If you look down the list there’s still some pretty great players,” DeLaet said. “It’s not a college golf event or anything like that … obviously it would have been better for the game, I believe, if all the top players go. But that’s their decision.
“I’m going and I’m proud and I’m gonna go there and try to win a medal.”
This marks golf’s return to the Summer Games following a 112-year absence. The last time it was contested at the Olympics was for men only in 1904, and Canada’s George Lyon won gold.
That means Canada is the defending golf champion heading into Rio.
Tuesday was a celebration of Canada’s golf team, but much of the dialogue surrounded health concerns and the Zika virus, which can have a devastating effect on babies.
“Luckily for us we had a boy and girl, twins, eight months ago and we shut ‘er down,” DeLaet said, grinning. “That’s enough. They’re great, but we are done having children. That made the decision obviously a little bit easier.”
He adds that since it’s winter in Rio and he’ll be armed with lots of bug spray, “It’s gonna be less of a deal hopefully than they’re making it out to be.”
Hearn, of Brantford, Ont., called the risks “very minimal.” He added, “I think it’s unfortunate that this has kind of overshadowed the competition that’s gonna be going on. We still have a tremendous field that’s going down there.”
Hearn is planning to attend the opening ceremony and watch a few events before his own begins. “We play a lot of great events, but to be an Olympian, it’s something that outside of golf, these athletes work at their whole life,” he said. “I’m gonna really enjoy going to watch these athletes compete for that one moment in their lifetime.
“And hopefully I can have a special moment down there as well and come back with a medal.”
On the women’s side, none of the top golfers in the world have announced they’re not attending.
Sharp, of Hamilton, says she’s looking forward to promoting the sport among women. “If we can spur on more girls to play, that’s a huge goal for me, to be a role model for not only Canadians but for all over the world to get more women into golf.”
Sharp will stay in Rio for the closing ceremony. “That’s important to me,” she said. “Four years from now, who knows where I’ll be. I’ll be close to 40, so I’m taking my opportunity now to experience it to the fullest.”
Sharp grew up watching Olympic hockey. “We’re known for hockey,” she said. “It’s time to show the world that we’re known for golf.”