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RIO DE JANEIRO -- Padraig Harrington was a strong voice in golfs bid to become an Olympic sport for the first time in more than a century.And then golfs image took a hit as players began dropping out, and the Irishman went quiet.He desperately wanted golf to succeed, and that meant unified support from the top players. But as they began pulling out -- particularly Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland -- it became personal. Without players withdrawing, he wouldnt have a chance to play.I was wearing two hats when it came to this, Harrington said. Obviously, I want golf to be a success in the Olympics, but I clearly wanted to go. So I wasnt jumping up and down saying, `Guys, you should all go. I was staying out of it. Because it is a dream of mine.It becomes a reality when Harrington arrives in Rio de Janeiro on Monday and the draw is announced for the 72-hole competition that starts Thursday and concludes with the first medals awarded since 1904 in St. Louis.Golf began its bid process in April 2008, about the time Harrington soared to his greatest heights. He repeated as British Open champion that year, and then won the PGA Championship to become the first European to win back-to-back majors in the modern lineup of Grand Slam events.Harrington joined the biggest names in golf -- Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Annika Sorenstam -- in a strong pitch to the IOC to put golf back in the program. But when the Rio Games rolled around, Harrington was nowhere close to qualifying because of three Irish golfers well ahead of him in the world ranking.And then McIlroy pulled out, citing the Zika virus. Graeme McDowell withdrew because his wife is due with their second child and he didnt want to be out of the country. Shane Lowry also withdrew. And now Harrington, the most famous of all Irish golfers, is headed to the Olympics.He hasnt even met the other Irish qualifier, Seamus Powers, who plays on the Web.com Tour. But he is thrilled to have him as a teammate.Id be hoping that the two of us have a chance coming down the last nine holes, Harrington said.Why are the Olympics so important? Why would a three-time major champion care more about gold than the silver claret jug or Wanamaker Trophy?That dates to his teenage years, when Harrington was starting to blossom in golf and was invited to three or four banquets each winter that honor the best sporting achievements in Ireland and feature the heroes of Irish sport over the years.Every sports awards I went to from 15 years of age, the first man they called out was a guy named Ronnie Delany, who won the 1,500 gold medal in 1956, he said. Every sports award. Thats how big a deal it is. I sat there and looked up and this guy ... who is this guy? Its a huge deal in Ireland.Harrington can recite the Irish history in the Olympics, from Delanys gold medal in Melbourne to Pat OCallaghans two golds in boxing in 1928 and 1932, Bob Tisdall in the 1932 Olympics for the 400-meter hurdles, even Jack Butler Yeats winning a silver in mixed painting, when art competitions were part of the games.So yes, its a huge deal.He even chose to sacrifice his standing on the PGA Tour. Harrington played the Travelers Championship in Connecticut last week, failing in his bid to move into the top 125 in the FedEx Cup. There are two events remaining, but hell be in Rio -- playing one week, watching the next.I normally come back and would play, but I think so much of the Olympics, Im going to take a weeks holiday and go to a number of events, Harrington said. Its an opportunity of a lifetime to really have a great weeks holiday the second week. The first week will be all business but hopefully the second week well have a good week.On his agenda are table tennis, gymnastics, diving, cycling, boxing.Im sure Im missing out on one or two, he said. This is all the second week. So Im trying to do two things a day the second week. Im really keen on it. Its really great fun watching all those sports. The Olympics ... the pain of losing is exceptional, the joy of winning, its right there on the line. So Id watch anything in those circumstances and obviously, the Olympics is the pinnacle of it all.He felt that way when he lobbied hard for golf to be part of it. And now he gets to take part of it himself.To listen to him, this is pure joy. Swell Liberty Bottle NZ . Brandon Morrow allowed five runs on six hits over three innings. He struck out two, walked one and hit a batter. Edwin Encarnacion had a two-out, bases loaded two-RBI double in the third inning. Swell NZ . The All-Pro lineman got the leg bent under him while trying to make a tackle during the first half of a 22-20 overtime loss at Miami on Thursday night. The medical staff initially thought hed torn the ligament, and the test a day later in Cincinnati confirmed it. http://www.swellwaterbottlenz.com/swell-bottle-wood-collection.html . It was Kerbers third final of the year after losing to Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova of Russia in Monterrey in April and to Petra Kvitova of Czech Republic in Tokyo two weeks ago. The 10th-ranked German improved her record in finals to 3-5. Swell Bottle Brush NZ . The 20-year-old Pelicans big man glanced up and smiled widely at the well-wishers -- a fitting end to a day he wont soon forget. Davis responded to his selection earlier in the day as a Western Conference All-Star with 26 points and 10 rebounds, and the New Orleans Pelicans overcame a 10-point fourth-quarter deficit to defeat the Minnesota Timberwolves 98-91 on Friday night. Swell Bottle Blonde Wood . Carey Price didnt, but he still came out on top against one of his rivals for the No. 1 job at the Sochi Games. The Anahim Lake, B.C., native was stellar in making 39 saves in his home province and Lars Eller got credit for a bizarre short-handed winner as the Canadiens defeated the Canucks 4-1. Lance Stroll believes he is not just on the 2017 Formula One grid because of the money he will bring to Williams next year.Although the details of his new contract are being kept secret by the team, Stroll comes with healthy financial backing from his billionaire father Lawrence. He will drive his rookie year at Williams next season alongside Valtteri Bottas, but after dominating Formula 3 this year he believes he has the talent to warrant a place on the grid.Everyone has their own opinion, I cant change that, he said at Williams driver announcement in Grove on Thursday. I come from money, Im not going to deny that. But I believe I won my shot in F1, because I won every championship Ive competed in in single seaters.Now the FIA have put in super licence [points] for that reason, so that people cant buy their way into F1 -- you have to prove yourself and win in junior categories.I dont want to say when Ill be able to show Im not just here for money. That just depends on some many things and various things falling into place. Im just going to worry about my business. Im very happy to be here looking forward to next seasoon.ddddddddddddDeputy team principal Claire Williams insists money was not the defining reason behind the teams decision and is confident Stroll will shed his pay driver tag next year.I know there have been a lot of comments about Lances background, and I want to make it clear to everyone that Williams has been a team that has made it clear and a statement of intent we would not allow financial considerations to influence our driver choice.That has been the case this year. Money doesnt drive performance. You either have the talent or you dont. Lance has proved he has talent and has what done what he has done. He has to do the job next year, and he will do that, to dispel those rumours.Strolls junior career has been funded by his father, who invested in the Prema team he drove for in F3 and also paid for a series of tests in a 2014 Williams this year. Lawrence Stroll earned his money in the fashion industry and owns a collection of vintage Ferraris as well as Circuit Mont-Temblant in Canada. ' ' '