Golf will be played in the Olympics in 2016 and 2020, after more than a century of banishment from the games.

According to the AP, “Padraig Harrington and Michelle Wie addressed the IOC in person before the vote. Wie talked about starting to play golf when she was 4 but never being able to dream of an Olympic medal until now.

“‘I can dream about doing something that neither Tiger nor Ernie [Els] have ever done, and that is to make the final putt to win an Olympic gold medal,’” Wie said. ‘If this dream comes true, somewhere in the world there will be another 4-year-old who sees me on that podium and perhaps starts her own Olympic dream.’”

Golf was approved 63-27 with two abstentions, and will stage a 72-hole stroke-play tournament for men and women, with 60 players in each field.

Interestingly, Michelle Wie can already say she’s done something that President Obama hasn’t done: Deliver a successful plea to the IOC.

Of course, Obama just one-upped Wie in the Nobel Peace Prize category, too.

Anyway, welcome back, golf! We here at WorldGolf.com always knew you were a World Sport (hence the name). All the IOC had to do was ask us.

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