Dawson cited the former Eastern bloc countries as bei

RIO DE JANEIRO -- The game of golf has long suffered with issues of participation and growth. The time it takes to play, the cost, the difficulty ... all are factors in the stagnant or declining numbers.Numerous initiatives have been put in place to help change the narrative, some of which might or might not succeed. How golfs participation in the Olympic Games is supposed to change anything has always been viewed with a skeptical eye.Rory McIlroy made headlines last month at The Open when he said he didnt get into golf to try and grow the game as he was explaining why he was at peace with his decision to skip the Olympics.But a lot of the discussion surrounding that has missed the point as it relates to the Olympics. When the mens Olympic tournament begins Thursday morning a few miles from the hysteria of the Olympic Village, the hope is that a new audience will be exposed to the game -- predominantly in places where an Olympic medal causes young people to dream.I think it already has helped grow the game and it will, said Henrik Stenson, the reigning Open champion, who is from Sweden. Being part of the Olympic Games, I think golf has real federations, and golf in certain countries have already been getting funds and have been starting to look at it differently.I think it already has grown the game. Us here playing is going to be viewed on the world stage, and thats going to be a different thing for the players who are now 14 and sitting back home watching this. I never saw my golfing heroes play in the Olympics, but youre going to have youngsters in different parts of the world watching us play, and they most likely are going to dream about being here one day in the future.That is the main point the International Golf Federation -- a group of leaders from various governing bodies -- has been preaching. That and the fact that being an Olympic sport will allow for funding to help nurture players.Peter Dawson, the president of the IGF, said that since 2009, when golf was given a spot in these Games, the number of worldwide golf federations has grown by more than 40, to 147.The fact that golf is in the Olympics means that the national Olympic committee of that country must have a national federation for the Olympic sport, Dawson said. Hence one is formed. Hence golf starts to move in that country. Thats what is happening. They get national backing and recognition.Dawson cited the former Eastern bloc countries as being the most noticeable ones to have set up federations.I dont think anybody can argue [against the point] that golf in the Olympics clearly is going to bring more profile, brings more funding into so many countries, said Irelands Padraig Harrington. Im a three-time major winner. If I went to the population of the world and said I was a three-time major winner, at least 90 percent of that population would not have an iota what I was [talking] about.If I went to the rest of the world and said I was an Olympic gold-medal winner, youd probably find that only 10 percent wouldnt know and it would be reverse; 90 percent would know what an Olympic gold-medal winner is. Its massive for golf in the Olympics. Its massive in so many countries.I think people who are thinking it doesnt make a difference, golf being in the Olympics, are living in a very Westernized world where golf is a big sport. But its such a small percentage of the people in the world who would recognize it. Whereas being an Olympic sport, it automatically jumps a barrier that includes it in so many state programs, state funding, which can only be good for the game. Can only be great for the game.Harrington, 45, has a unique perspective. He was part of the delegation that went to Switzerland in 2009 to lobby the International Olympic Committee for golfs inclusion in the Games. He was joined by Italys Matteo Manassero, who was 16 at the time, along with Suzann Pettersen and Michelle Wie, the only one among the foursome who did not qualify for the Games.I think in a lot of ways, golf really won when we were voted in, said Ty Votaw, vice president of the IGF and an executive with the PGA Tour. Since that time, youve seen national federations around the world increase. That wouldnt have happened if golf wasnt an Olympic sport.That growth happened over the past seven years. Thats just one example. You wouldnt have had a flag-bearer from Israel or Bangladesh or Paraguay be a golfer if we werent in the Olympics.There is also the hope that golf will grow in places such as Brazil, which has some 200 million people but only about 20,000 golfers, or .001 percent of the population. The Olympic Golf Course is just the third in the city and the first that is public.The Olympics served as an inspiration for the first public golf course in an entire country in Brazil, Votaw said. And you look at the players who withdrew, primarily fully developed golf-playing nations like South Africa, Australia, Ireland and the United States.This was never about growing the sport in those countries in a way that it could in other countries. I think there will be young people in the United States and the U.K. and Ireland and Australia who will be inspired by what they see here. And there might be additional people brought to the game. But because they are fully developed golf-playing nations, the trajectory of growth isnt going to be nearly as steep as it would be in India if Anirban Lahiri wins a bronze medal or a silver medal or a gold medal. That was the real reason. Jonathon Simmons Jersey . In the response filed Wednesday to the complaint by 30-year-old Alexander Bradley, attorneys say the former University of Florida player is invoking his Fifth Amendment right that protects people from incriminating themselves. Evan Fournier Jersey . Tevez, who has had conflicts with coaches in the past, has not been called up since Sabella was named coach in 2011. Argentina boasts Lionel Messi, Gonzalo Higuain, Sergio Aguero, Ezequiel Lavezzi and Angel Di Maria. http://www.cheapmagicjerseyschina.com/nikola-vucevic-jersey/ . Bradwell was scheduled to become a free agent Tuesday. Born and raised in Toronto, Bradwell is entering his sixth CFL season, with all six played for his hometown Argonauts. Discount Magic Jerseys Authentic Magic Jerseys .J. -- Seven games into a disappointing season, New York Giants defensive catalyst Jason Pierre-Paul is getting the feeling hes back. EVANSTON, Ill. -- It looked like an intriguing matchup between dangerous ACC and Big Ten teams trying to show that they can compete with the best in their conferences.Instead, Duke and Northwestern come into Saturdays game trying to shake off losses and get headed back in the right direction.The challenge for us ... first road game, playing a Power Five team, understanding the focus, effort that its going to take, Duke coach David Cutcliffe said. Thats kind of going to be interesting. This is where you really start tagging a team as to who they are and how theyre going to respond. Its never a must-win -- you just dont have that until you get toward the end of your season -- but these are times where you must answer the bell.Duke (1-1) has made some big strides in recent years with three straight winning seasons and a division championship. The Blue Devils have made four consecutive bowls and finally won one last year. But after opening with an easy victory over crosstown opponent North Carolina Central, they took one on the chin last week with a 24-14 loss to Wake Forest.At least Duke has a victory this season.Northwestern is searching for its first win after opening with a one-point loss to MAC favorite Western Michigan and falling 9-7 at home to FCS power Illinois State on a field goal as time expired. It is certainly not what the Wildcats envisioned after going 10-3 in a rebound season that seemed to quiet concerns about the program after going 5-7 in back-to-back years.The slow start has raised concerns that Northwestern is too predictable on offense and that last season -- not the previous two -- was an exception.I think you have to have an identity, coach Pat Fitzgerald said. You have to get the guys to execute cleanly. If youd like me to tell you what Iowas going to do, I can tell you exactly what theeyre going to do.dddddddddddd Most teams have an identity. Youre able to stick to your identity and then build complements off of it. ... Whoevers opinion that is, I respect it. But I dont think it matters what you run; if you dont run it efficiently, youre not going to be very good.Here are some things to look for as Duke tries to shake off a loss and Northwestern seeks its first win:TOUGH FRESHMANKeep an eye on active Duke LB Joe Giles-Harris, who leads Atlantic Coast Conference freshmen with 21 tackles. He was all over the field last week against Wake Forest, finishing with 15 stops, recovering a fumble and intercepting a pass.BANGED UPFitzgerald expects star running back Justin Jackson to play after exiting in the fourth quarter last week with a leg injury. Jackson, however, was less certain.Ill be doing everything I can to play on Saturday, he said.Jackson, the Big Tens second-leading rusher a year ago, ran for 42 yards last week after going for 124 in the opener.GOOD ON THE ROADThis is Dukes road opener, and the Blue Devils have won 13 of their last 16 road games since 2013 -- the most among ACC programs in that time span, and trailing only Ohio State (15) among teams from the five power conferences.DUKES STARTA win for the Blue Devils would give them at least a 2-1 start in each of the last five years. Thats something Duke hasnt done since 1960-66.ON LINEFitzgerald hinted at possible changes on the offensive line after a rough showing against Illinois State . Northwestern got outgained 372 yards to 277, managed just 16 first downs to Illinois States 25 and converted 5 of 18 third downs. Clayton Thorson also got sacked three times and completed 17 of 41 passes for 191 yards. ' ' '