Golf, rugby added to Olympics lineup

COPENHAGEN, Denmark, Oct. 9 (UPI) -- Golf and rugby were added to the lineup for the 2016 and 2020 Summer Games in an International Olympics Committee vote in Denmark Friday.

Golf will be in the Olympics for the first time since 1904 when Canada's George Lyon took the gold medal. The 1900 Games also had golf and the gold was taken by American Charles Sands, who won silver in 1904.

American Margaret Ives Abbott won the 1900 women's golf competition. There was no women's golf at the 1904 Olympics.

The IOC voted to institute a 72-hole tournament in both men's and women's divisions in 2016 and 2020.

"This is great for golf and we hope to be of great benefit to the Olympic Games as well," said Peter Dawson, secretary-general of the International Golf Federation.

World No. 1 Tiger Woods said in August: "We're long overdue to have (golf) in the Olympics.

Rugby was contested in four previous Olympics, the last time in 1924 when the United States took the gold medal.

Rather than traditional 15-person teams, the IOC approved a modified 7-on-7 version of rugby for its competition.

"I am so delighted and proud," said International Rugby Board President Bernard Lapasset.

Seven sports were under consideration for inclusion in the 2016 and 2020 Games. Baseball, karate, roller sports, softball and squash didn't win approval to be added to the sports roster.

The 2016 Summer Games will be in Rio de Janeiro. The site of the 2020 Games hasn't been determined.