Team GB’s Golf Coach talks Rio2016

Captain of Great Britain's Olympic golf team, Jamie Spence speaks during a British Olympic Golf Team Press Conference ahead of the Open Championship at Royal Troon

Team GB’s Golf Coach sat down for an exclusive chat and he was candid with his views, here’s what he had to say…

What did it mean to be offered the role?

It was a ‘ fist pump’ moment. I got the call two Christmases ago and it was obviously an honour and a great privilege.

How many are in the team?

It’s a team of eight with two men and two women, plus their caddies. If we’d been in the top 15 in the Olympic rankings then we would have had four male and four female players. The team is being finalised now (early July) but we’re looking strong with Justin Rose, Danny Willett, Catriona Matthew and Charley Hull.

Are they looking forward to it?

Justin wanted to talk to me about this two years ago and he’s taking his whole family down. Danny is very keen and Charlie, being young, is hugely excited. You could say that Catriona has kept her career going just for this moment.

So they’re all really up for it?

Are you kidding! Justin is marching in the opening ceremony and he wants to carry the flag. I believe we can win a gold and silver medal in each event. We have three Major champions and who’s to say that Charley won’t have joined that group before we travel? They have their flights covered by the BOA (British Olympic Association) but the rest they pay for. These players are paid to play golf, but this time they are paying to play. That says it all.

And in Rio, they play the usual format of a 72- hole medal?

I think everyone in golf is disappointed that it’s not a different format. But the people who came up with the rules didn’t have too long to think about it and they played safe. I think it should have been more like amateur golf with two rounds of medal and then the top 16 play matchplay. The team element would have been good – like the old Dunhill Cup.

So, it’s individual. We’re not really a ‘team’?

Yes, I agree, but a javelin thrower isn’t in a team either. But we are part of ‘Team GB’.
And that means rubbing shoulders with other athletes?

We’re all in one block. I know Danny can’t wait to see how other sports work so that he can learn more. But I think a lot of the other athletes will be surprised how hard the golfers work.

It’ll be a very new experience…

This takes golf to a new audience. You saw what it meant for Andy Murray when he won in London? Also, this takes a major event away from America, which has to be good. We’re far too dominated by the United States. Three Majors there is just ridiculous and should be challenged.

What would a gold medal mean?

You have to ask each athlete that. But I’d say that person would have recognition beyond their sport. If you win the BMW Championship, keen golfers know you. Win Olympic gold and the world is aware.

If Justin Rose wins then in 40 years’ time where will that medal be?

On his mantelpiece right next to the US Open trophy that he won at Merion.

It’s possible that golf as an Olympic sport might fail…

That is true. It might only last three times, but then there would be three gold medal winners out there. That’s something to brag about. But if it keeps going, then it can only get bigger and bigger each time. We need to take golf to the world stage. The WGC events didn’t do that because the PGA Tour is so insular in its thinking. This is a huge opportunity.