Worldwide Game...Worldwide Issues

2016 has been an interesting year for golf. It's been a year full of ups and downs and some of those downs have been sad. While we crowned freshly minted first time Major Champions in Danny Willett, Dustin Johnson, Henrik Stenson and Jimmy Walker we also said good-bye to a "King". As much as many have stated that golf has made a downturn in terms of play and popularity it's also made strides worldwide. We crowned our first Men's Olympic Golf Champion in 112 years with Great Britain's Justin Rose earning the distinction. The games in Rio marked the first time that a Women's Champion was crowned when Inbee Park of South Korea took home the gold medal. Canadians rejoiced when Smith's Falls, Ontario native Brooke Henderson won her first Major the first for a Canadian woman since Sandra Post in 1968.

Photo Credit: pga.com

The opening paragraph basically shows the proverbial "proof in the pudding" that the game of golf is truly a worldwide game. Golfers from Canada, England, Sweden, South Korea and the United States are listed without batting an eyelash. However, with being a worldwide game the potential is strong for the game to be caught up in worldwide issues. These issues can come in the form of things like the Zika Virus which plagued the Olympics and held back notable golfers like Jordan Spieth and Rory McIlroy. Sometimes matters of politics can be involved as well. Let's look at this week shall we?

Photo Credit: europeantour.com

This week is the Turkish Airlines Open in Antayla, Turkey. This isn't the first time of that this event has been held as it has been played on the European Tour since 2013. In the past it has played host to a great field and this is also an event that Tiger Woods was supposed to play in. Regardless of this, I have had my eye on this tournament for a while. The region is mired in strife as the Middle East has always seemed to be during my 44 years on this planet. This year I would say is the most volatile of any of those years that I have been alive for. A time where it seems the world is one bad decision away from escalating into a point of no return. Turkey is definitely in the middle of this "powder keg" where tensions became high after Turkish forces surrounded the NATO air base in Adana at the end of July. Not to mention thousands of Turks who threatened to seize the base after an alleged failed coup. The base a key installation for the fight against ISIS. The latter then launching rocket attacks in Turkey including recent attacks in Antayla. A resort town hosting the event this week

Photo Credit: golf.turkishairlines.com

I have often thought of two of my passions being ways to escape the world so to speak. Fly fishing and golf. I never thought that politics regardless of how many rounds per year President Barack Obama would get in the way of my escapism. But it has and it has effected this tournament and millions of people worldwide. The tournament which once had an air of excitement surrounding it with the field scheduled to appear has had that air get taken out of its "sails". Rocket attacks... a little bigger than Zika (potentially as fatal) and can you blame for guys like Patrick Reed, Henrik Stenson and Rory for withdrawing? Where I was a little critical of the Zika withdrawals I also understood. To be frank, I'm shocked that more players haven't withdrawn and for months I actually waited for this event to be cancelled entirely much like the Ladies European Tour did earlier in the year for security reasons. Credit the organizers and European Tour officials for following the old entertaining mantra of "the show must go on". The field is still strong with names like Willett, Lee Westwood, Nicolas Coelsarts, Padraig Harrington and some guy named "Beef" headlining. I'd love to see a victory for Beef.

It sucks but it's a reality that golf can be effected by politics. There have always been geopolitical issues and they are not going away anytime soon especially with a truly worldwide game. I guess we have to just roll with the punches and have life and show continue to go on. In the grand scheme of things, one tournament having an issue like this is minor in comparison to other conflicts or issues that people face every day of their lives. But I like the escapism that is golf. Thinking about the sweet smell of freshly mowed grass covered in dew, lush fairways that look like ribbons adorned with trees, the shimmering sand that fills bunkers, and the sounds of nature. Golf! If only the world would trade #BombsForBirdies

Until The Next Tee.