“I think it’s great for golf,” said the world’s number one golfer, Tiger Woods. ”It’s a perfect fit for the Olympics…”

“This is a very significant day for golf,” said Peter Dawson, head of golf’s governing body – the R&A . “In addition to those golfers who will have an opportunity to compete as Olympic athletes, we are excited for the national golf federations that will reap the benefits from today’s decision in terms of growth and support within their countries,” Dawson said.

“This is a wonderful occasion for Rugby and its future across the globe,” said South African rugby coach, Paul Treu. ” Just think, in a few years’ time our top rugby players will share the same stage as world-class athletes like Usain Bolt [and] Michael Phelps.”

While the IOC’s selection process received some criticism from it’s board members, the response of Twitter has been positive… for the most part:

1. 
   BeachBassBone (Long Beach, CA) So baseball is no longer an Olympic sport, but it’s okay. We get golf in return! Wait… what? 11 Oct 2009 from TweetDeck
2. 
   MicahDL (Denver, CO) Golf and rugby added to summer olympic lineup…holla! 11 Oct 2009 from txt
3. 
   alexmassie (Scotland) If golf can be an Olympic sport then why isn’t darts in the Olympics? 11 Oct 2009 from TweetDeck
4. 
   CADsmart (Bristol, UK) So pleased to see Rugby 7’s in the Olympic family – great stuff! 11 Oct 2009 from web
5. 
   atfmama2004 (Duluth, GA) Looking forward to golf as an olympic sport (cheering, not playing…..LOL)! 12 Oct 2009 from web
6. 
   WinSr (East Hartford, CT) Glad to see Rugby returning as an Olympic event. 12 Oct 2009 from web
7. 
   WomenandGolf (Michigan) Thrilled that golf will return (after 100+ yrs) as an Olympic sport in 2016 and 2020 along with rugby sevens, as approved by the IOC! 12 Oct 2009 from web

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On Friday, the International Olympic Committee selected Rio de Janeiro as the host for the 2016 Summer Olympic Games, beating out Madrid, Tokyo, and Chicago.

Here is what athletes on Twitter said regarding the IOC’s decision:

1. 
   mcewenrobbie (Professional Cyclist) CONGRATULATIONS RIO DE JANEIRO!! 02 Oct 2009 from TweetDeck
2. 
   h3lio (IRL Driver) AEEEE!!!! Olimpiadas no Rio em 2016! #Rio2016 !!!!
   uhuuuuu! #VaiBrasil 02 Oct 2009 from Tweetie
3. 
   AmerDelic (Professional Tennis Player) Back to the #Olympics. #Rio will be a great host. Brazilians know how to enjoy life. Maybe that rubs off on some others when they visit. 02 Oct 2009 from Echofon
4. 
   KJ_MayorJohnson (Former NBA Player) Congratulations Rio – you’re lucky Sacramento wasn’t a candidate! 02 Oct 2009 from web
5. 
   TonyKanaan (IRL Driver) Olimpiadas 2016 no Rio, SINIXXXXTROOOO. estaremos la. 02 Oct 2009 from web
6. 
   jayfeely (NFL Player) I was surprised Obama extended himself without assurances that US would win the vote. I am dissappointed b/c I wanted to take my kids 02 Oct 2009 from mobile web
7. 
   Lala_the_diver (Olympic Diver) Congrats to Rio on getting the 2016 OlympicGames! 02 Oct 2009 from web
8. 
   DatDude75 (Former NFL Player) @SheezyDoesIt I couldn’t be happier for Rio……Congrats to them…..and I will thank them personally all the way through 2016!!!! 02 Oct 2009 from web in reply to SheezyDoesIt
9. 
   alex_lloyd (IRL Driver) Such a shame Chicago lost the Olympic bid for 2016. 02 Oct 2009 from Tweetie
10. 
    Juliegranada (LPGA Golfer) Shot 2 under today! Very solid! I heard that the 2016 olympics is going to be in rio! Wow that’s great! 02 Oct 2009 from Echofon
11. 
    str8edgeracer (MLB Player) not really surprised chicago didn’t get the olympic bid, but I know a lot of it is because of our current political and economic situasche 02 Oct 2009 from web
12. 
    johanbruyneel (Professional Cyclist) Too bad Madrid (where I live) didn’t get the Olympics. Odds were against us. Never twice on same continent. Up to 2020 or move to Brasil… 02 Oct 2009 from UberTwitter

— this quote was brought to you by quoteurl

To see what these athletes, as well as other are up to on Twitter check out Championist or Twitter Athletes

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Many of the competitors in the events are Tweeting from the course. Morgan Pressel (@morganpressel) posted this Twitpic of Paige MacKenzie (@Paige_Mackenzie) relaxing in the clubhouse:  

morganpressel: That is @Paige_Mackenzie sleeping during the delay…

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After beginning the day in 7th place, four shots behind leader Jonathyn Byrd, Tiger Woods shot a seven-under 65 to edge Jim Furyk by one stroke to win the PGA Tour Memorial Tournament, per PGATOUR.com.

Birdies on 17 and 18 locked in a two-shot lead that could only be chiseled away by one as Furyk birdied 18 — hitting 14 out of 14 fairways didn’t hurt Tiger’s cause either.

Here’s a TwitPic of Tiger sinking a birdie putt on his way to victory:

#Tiger tapping in for birdie to all but win his 4th #memorial! (@scottd10tv)

This is Woods’s fourth Memorial championship and 67th overall PGA Tour win. The victory moves Tiger to fourth place in the FedEx cup standings and gives him the momentum heading into a summer schedule that features the U.S. Open (@usopengolf) June 18-21 at Bethpage Black in Farmingdale, NY.

The official Tweets of the PGA Tour (@PGATOUR) followed Tiger’s solid comeback victory:

1. 
   PGATOUR On 11, Tiger Woods drives 329 yds an hits an amazing chip from rough that rolls straight into the hole for eagle. He’s -10, one back of Byrd 07 Jun 2009 from twhirl
2. 
   PGATOUR Byrd missed his par putt on 14 and drops to one shot behind Tiger Woods. Tiger now leading at the Memorial. 07 Jun 2009 from twhirl
3. 
   PGATOUR Tiger reclaims the lead with a birdie on 17. He is alone at 11-under with one hole left to play at Memorial. 07 Jun 2009 from twhirl
4. 
   PGATOUR Tiger Woods posts 33-32=65, with 2 bogeys, 7 birdies and an eagle. He’s in the clubhouse at -12, on track for his 4th win at Memorial. 07 Jun 2009 from twhirl
5. 
   PGATOUR As Furyk and Byrd hit their 2nd shots on 18, Tiger’s win at Memorial becomes official. His 67th win on TOUR, what a way to do it. 07 Jun 2009 from twhirl

Other Twitterers knew Tiger had it in him to pull out this victory and they weren’t shy about their praise:

1. 
   pgagolf Amazing Finish for Tiger at -12 . . Jack Nicklaus comes down to congratulate Tiger and he says “thanks buddy!” hahaha 07 Jun 2009 from TweetDeck
2. 
   Joey_Ballgame Tiger Woods goes -7 on Sunday for the win. YOU DA MAAAANNN!!! 07 Jun 2009 from Twitterrific
3. 
   GMBNARD Tiger Woods after his comeback win today: “Just a matter of staying with it and being patient.” Good advice for any endeavor. 07 Jun 2009 from web
4. 
   ChrisLevinson Tiger Woods added another chapter to his lore Sunday, shooting 65. Tiger eagled and closed with back-to-back birdies. WOW!!!! 07 Jun 2009 from web
5. 
   gmorten1 tiger woods on a sunday is like a bruce willis movie. the situation seems dire, but you know he’s gonna find a way to pull it out 07 Jun 2009 from web
6. 
   MintaDoIt It’z no fair for #Tiger woods to play golf he invented the game 07 Jun 2009 from mobile web

Can Tiger win out this summer? Can anyone compete with this fierce competitor? Leave us your thoughts below or contact us @BTSports.

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In light of recent news that the LPGA is encouraging their players to tweet during rounds, no professional sport has more of their own embracing the technology.

And no athlete is embracing Twitter like Christina Kim.

professional golfer and Uber Twitterer Christina Kim

Ranked 41st in the LPGA, Kim has two career victories and has earned over $3 million in 7 seasons on tour. Not bad. But Christina has more interests beyond sand traps and pitching wedges. How do I know? Just subscribe to her Twitter feed @thechristinakim. It’s a potpourri of random thoughts, engaging outburts, and photos of her and her friends in goofy poses.

who says golfers can't have fun?

I tracked down the frenetic Kim at dinner Thursday night and we had a brief tweet chat (which she squeezed in between 6 or 7 other tweet-versations):

1. 
   BTsports @thechristinakim We love your tweets…dig the sushi platter pic! We’d like to ask you a few questions about Twitter. Do you mind? 29 May 2009 from web
2. 
   TheChristinaKim @BTsports sure thing, not at all!!! Let’s throw down!! 29 May 2009 from UberTwitter in reply to BTsports
3. 
   BTsports @thechristinakim Awesome. Your commish came out and said she would “love it” if players tweeted during rounds. Have you? 29 May 2009 from web
4. 
   TheChristinaKim @BTsports lol, no I am just tweeting about what is in front of me and at the front of my mind. I just tweet about what is important to me, 29 May 2009 from UberTwitter in reply to BTsports

1. 
   BTsports @thechristinakim One moment you are tweeting about clubs, the next about a new camera, then a charity event. Are you reaching more fans? 29 May 2009 from web
2. 
   TheChristinaKim @BTsports club tweets tend to happen when I’m at the course, and then afterwards, anything goes with me! Photography, charities, TV shows… 29 May 2009 from UberTwitter in reply to BTsports
3. 
   BTsports @thechristinakim hockey, tennis, sushi your twts seem to be an extension of who you are. During a round, would you ever twt before a shot? 29 May 2009 from web
4. 
   TheChristinaKim @BTsports idk… I miiiiight… Don’t knock it till you try it! Lol!!! 29 May 2009 from UberTwitter in reply to BTsports
5. 
   BTsports @thechristinakim I can see it- You’re on a downhill slope, green playing a bit left to right…left edge…get there…get there…yes! Next 29 May 2009 from web

Find a tweeting athlete? Keep us in the loop @BTsports.

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Per ESPN in a release from Mickelson’s management company, the lefty will take an indefinite leave of absence from the PGA Tour.

The couple have three children between the ages of 6-9.

Support was being issued across the golf world, even from rival Tiger Woods.

Twitterers are also lending their support:

1. 
   FinTel RT @Titleist Amy Mickelson diagnosed with breast cancer. Thoughts and prayers to Amy, Phil and family http://bit.ly/15zD10 20 May 2009 from web
2. 
   castawaywilson Amy Mickelson diagnosed with breast cancer. 37 years old. Positive thoughts and energy going out to their family! 20 May 2009 from web
3. 
   MrPhotoID Best wishes to Amy (and Phil) Mickelson during their fight http://bit.ly/x156H – File under #perspective 20 May 2009 from TweetDeck
4. 
   BillBruno Wishing Amy Mickelson the best, sorry to hear the news. http://bit.ly/15zD10 20 May 2009 from TweetDeck
5. 
   dwtumby Good luck Phil & Amy Mickelson on battling breast cancer! He’s very fortuanate that he can take off work indefinitely. 20 May 2009 from web

Phil handing out autographs on tour

(Twitpic by @sportsmachine)

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