LYTHAM ST. ANNES, England — There is a huge buzz around England about the Olympic Games, which begin next week in London. Golf will join the Games as a sport in 2016.
“I hope I can qualify,’’ Tiger Woods said Tuesday. “I’ll be … four more years … I’ll be 40 by then. It will be something that I’ve never experienced and I would love to be able to have a chance to represent my country in playing in the Olympic Games.’’
Luke Donald said, “I was in London the week before last, got to watch Wimbledon and got to walk around the town a little bit, and there was already a good atmosphere with all the countries’ flags down Regents Street. It’s very festive right now, and hopefully the sun will break out and show London in a great place that it is.
“It’s exciting for the country and hopefully it’s a very successful Olympics. Hopefully in four years maybe I’m a part of that in Rio.’’
Lee Westwood, like Donald an Englishman, said he’ll be in the U.S. for the Games, joking, “I’m going to miss the mayhem so I won’t be available for security duties. I would like to have gone. It’s very special for London to be hosting the Olympics and I hope it runs smoothly.’’