A year away from golfs return to the Olympics after a 112-year absence, IOC President Thomas Bach said it would be good if the sport had a wide range of players from as many countries as possible competing for medals.And thats what it delivered -- 41 countries in the mens and womens competition -- an example of golfs global appeal.But the story of celebrated return has become more about whos not playing.Jordan Spieth will be watching from home, still wondering if he should have set aside his personal concerns and gone to Rio de Janeiro. Rory McIlroy said he wont be watching at all, citing the Zika virus and then taking a swipe at golf as an Olympic sport by saying he would watch the sports that matter.Of eligible players, 21 men said they would not be going, nearly half of them citing concerns about Zika.The women have carried the torch for golf, with only one player declining to go because of the mosquito-borne virus that has been linked to birth defects. Stacy Lewis has questioned whether the men make too much money to care about the Olympics.She is getting married in the fall, and hearing so many men cite Zika because they plan to start families caused her to probe deeper into the threat.I talked to a lot of different people and basically went into the conversation thinking in my head, `OK, give me a reason why I shouldnt go. And none of those people ever gave me a reason why I should not go, Lewis said.I want to be a part of the Olympics, she said. .I think the Olympics are bigger than any golf tournament on the planet. Its bigger than the Masters. Its bigger than the U.S. Open. Its bigger than the Womens Open. Its the biggest thing out there, and I want to be a part of that.None of the top four in mens golf will be part of the Rio Games. The men will have only eight of the top 20 in the world, including Masters champion Danny Willett of England and British Open champion Henrik Stenson of Sweden.The women will have nine of 10, only because South Korea has five players in the top 10 and countries only are allowed to send four.The mens competition is Aug. 11-14, followed by the women on Aug. 17-20. Regardless of who plays, medals will be distributed to a golfer for the first time since George Lyon of Canada won the gold in St. Louis against a 77-man field -- three Canadians, 74 Americans.The women did not play.THE FORMAT: The men and women will compete in medal play over 72 holes, just like they do throughout the golf season. The International Golf Federation has been criticized for not having a team format, which might have given some players motivation to attend. Ty Votaw, the vice presidents of the IGF, has said player support was imperative in golfs bid to get back in the Olympics, and most of them wanted a 72-hole format.THE COURSE: For the longest time, the biggest headache in golfs return to the Olympics was getting the golf course built. American golf architect Gil Hanse was selected to design Olympic Golf Course in Barra da Tijuca, and it was delayed because of politics and environmental lawsuits. A test event was not held until March and involved nine Brazilian players. The course could be the star of the Olympics. It is to become Rios only public course when the Olympics are over to help grow the sport.MALE FAVORITE: Stenson is the highest-ranked player at No. 5 and coming off arguably the greatest final round in a major when he won The Open at Royal Troon. He would be considered a favorite for the mens gold along with two-time Masters champion Bubba Watson, Sergio Garcia of Spain, Rickie Fowler and Justin Rose. Andy Murray won a gold medal in tennis before he won a Grand Slam event, and that could be a strong possibility in golf. Garcia, Fowler, Patrick Reed and Matt Kuchar are among the highest-ranked players to have never won a major.FEMALE FAVORITE: Womens golf doesnt have as much depth as the men, and there are fewer surprises in the big events. While the Koreans have strength in numbers, the favorites start with Lydia Ko of New Zealand and Brooke Henderson of Canada, a pair of teenagers who are No. 1 and No. 2 in the world, and who won the first two majors in the LPGA season. Lexi Thompson is the highest-ranked American and a major champion. Lewis is the most accomplished American, though she is going on two years without a victory.THE FUTURE: The biggest competition might be a year after the Olympics, when the IOC votes which events will be part of the Tokyo Games, and whether golf remains part of the Olympic program beyond 2020. Golfs future has taken a big hit with so many male stars pulling out, and the IGF has said it hopes the IOC will consider the myriad problems in Brazil in assessing the withdrawals. Johnny Boychuk Jersey . Oaklands loss to Seattle clinched the ALs best record for the Red Sox with one day to spare in the regular season. "I think everybody was kind of watching," catcher David Ross said. "Demp (Ryan Dempster) came out before he went to the bullpen and was just yelling that they lost. Alan Quine Jersey . In the lead up - which seemed to begin the moment Mike Geiger blew the whistle in Houston last Thursday night - the Impact rumour mill went into overdrive. The speculation went into meltdown mode, of the golden nugget variety. http://www.wholesaleislandersjerseys.com/?tag=cheap-pat-lafontaine-jersey . -- Ryan Getzlaf grabbed the three pucks wrapped in tape and held them up to his chest in the Anaheim Ducks dressing room for a celebration nine seasons in the making. Scott Mayfield Jersey . PETERSBURG, Fla. Bryan Trottier Jersey . -- Chicago Bears cornerback Tim Jennings was selected Monday to his second straight Pro Bowl, while guard Kyle Long made it after a solid rookie season. Mary Kom, who has been in a prolonged absence from boxing and failed to qualify for the Rio Olympics, has decided to return to the light flyweight 48kg division amid speculation that it is among the two categories that the International Boxing Association (AIBA) is pushing for inclusion in the 2020 Tokyo Games.I have decided to move back to light flyweight because that is my original weight category, Mary Kom, an Olympic bronze-medallist, told PTI. I feel the most comfortable competing in it and I dont have to punish my body to maintain this weight. I am feeling very positive once again and just wait and watch what I do now. ?Mary Kom is set to be honoured with the AIBA Legends Award during the world bodys 70th anniversary celebrations on December 20. The award comes as a bright spot in a rather disappointing year during which Mary Kom, a multiple-time Asian champion, missed out on qualifying for the Rio Games after losing early in the World Championships in May.There was speculation that Mary Kom might even call time on her career after she accepted a Rajya Sabha nomination from the government, but she put those rumours to bed by saying she was raring to get back into the ring.?I have got the fire back. I have been training and I feel competitive. I felt bad when I could not make it to the Olympics, it was a heartbreak but I am over it now and back to what I do best in the ring. I think AIBA is going to include light flyweight in the Asian and Commonwealth Games and it could also makke it to the Olympics, so I am keeping my fingers crossed.ddddddddddddChing Kuo Wu, the AIBA president, has already stated that he considers it his responsibility to ensure that womens boxing categories increase from the current three - 51kg, 60kg and 75 kg - to five by the 2020 Games. ?Mary Koms trainer Chhote Lal Yadav, who is now an assistant coach with the national womens team, said she had already started training with rigour.?The power in her punches has increased manifold because of this decision as she no longer has to work hard to increase her weight. Light flyweight is her natural weight and that has improved her strength. She has been training hard and will be a force to reckon with, Yadav, who is here as Services Sports Control Board (SSCB) coach in the ongoing mens National Championships, said.In fact, I can say that she is going to strike it big in this category. There are very few girls who match up to her in this division even after these many years.Incidentally, Mary Koms last world title, in the 2010 Barbados edition, came in the 48kg category, while four others had been achieved in pinweight (46kg) prior to that. She had jumped to flyweight 51kg after it was included in the 2012 Olympic Games.Mary Kom went on to win the bronze medal in the London Games. She also won a gold medal in the 2014 Asian Games where womens boxing made its debut. Wholesale Jerseys Free Shipping China NFL Jerseys China Jerseys Cheap Jerseys China Cheap Jerseys 2019 Cheap NFL Jerseys China NFL Jerseys From China ' ' '