Anna Nordqvist alone Swedish women’s golf competition: ‘a little spoiled’

On Sunday, the men finished their golf competition at the Games in Tokyo. After four days of playing, it became clear that Xander Shaveli, USA, is the Olympic champion.

But it was a competition that was reflected in many defections before. Many of the world’s best ever players have chosen not to play the Olympics, including American and current world runner-up Dustin Johnson and South African Louis Oosthuizen.

This is not the case with women.

In fact, only two girls from Great Britain chose to say no and did not say one after the other. So on the women’s side, this is the best field there can be and that’s what’s so much fun, says Anna Nordqvist.

“Give priority to other major competitions”

The Swede, one of two women (the other Madeleine Sagstrom) competing in Olympic golf, wonders why so many men choose not to play.

“I think many women probably realize how special it is to play the Olympics and I know that many men prioritize other major competitions in the United States with playoffs,” she says and continues.

– Female athletes may have more respect for the Olympic Games and you realize how great and what an honor it is.

It was a bit similar already during the games in Rio 2016.

I know the players play with slightly different prize money and have slightly different circumstances than us women and I don’t know if that affects anything, but I think it’s sad now that golf has worked so hard to get into the Olympics.

She notes that once the sport is on the program, it’s sad that many great men’s players don’t choose to go.

– Of course it’s too boring for the Olympics. It’s a feeling on the women’s part, everyone is still here and appreciates this opportunity.

– I don’t know, if it is that men might be a little spoiled with the other possibilities. But I love sports and have followed the Olympics my whole life, so I know how important the Olympics are to all other Swedish athletes.

Olympic rookie Madeleine Sagstrom sees a positive development compared to four years ago, but she’s not quite satisfied yet.

– I don’t really know why, but there were many positive reactions after the Olympics in Rio. And you can see that in this year’s men’s starting roster than in Rio, there are more high-ranking players participating. But it still seems to be attracting more female players, and it’s fun having so many women here.

This gives the Olympic competition a higher profile.

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