olympic-golf

We’re only six months away from Olympic golf! The provisional schedule has the men’s tournament down for 11th-14th August, with the women’s event to follow on 17th-20th August.

The top 15 players of each gender will automatically qualify for the Olympic golf event, limited to four per country. 

The remaining 45 spots will go to the highest-ranked players from countries that do not have two golfers in the top-15.

We asked some of the big names who are likely to qualify whether they can’t wait to pack their bags in pursuit of gold, or whether they’d sooner stay at home watching Clare Balding getting overexcited about equestrian.

Jordan Spieth

Winning a gold medal has got to be up there now, in my mind, with winning a major championship.

More than anything, it would be nice bragging rights, if I’ve got a gold medal and somebody that I get to see week-to-week on the PGA Tour has got a silver or bronze. 

I think this year we’re going to approach it as a fifth major and we’re going to prepare like it is. I’m going to go down there and try and take care of business.

Lydia Ko

Everybody is so excited for the Olympics. Ever since they announced that golf will be in the Olympics I said, ‘Hey, I want to get myself on that team’.

For any athlete to say you’re an Olympian is a whole new proud feeling, and to represent your country on such an international stage, it’s going to be a pretty special week.

The Olympics will probably be my highest priority. 

Adam Scott

I’ve been pretty open and outspoken that it’s not really a priority of my scheduling, which is based around the majors. If the Olympics fits in, then it does. The gap in the schedule there… some time off looks quite good actually. 

It is absolutely a possibility I won’t go as it is not a priority in my schedule.

It [an Olympic medal] is nothing I have ever dreamed of having and it really doesn’t have any significance for golf.

I’m not really sure how just having another golf tournament is really going to enhance the game or grow the game any more than any other tournament just because it’s the Olympics.

Marc Leishman

I am not jumping out of my skin to play it but, having said that, it would be amazing to win a gold medal and I absolutely love representing my country.

Bubba Watson

How would you not want to be an Olympic athlete? My wife qualified for the Olympics for basketball but was injured so she never got to play. 

I would say it [a gold medal] would be a little bit bigger than a green jacket. It’s more rare. The game of golf hasn’t seen it in years. And I get to keep that gold medal for life. I don’t have to give it back after a year. 

Jason Day

I’ve always thought the Olympics was where amateurs played, not the kind of thing where you go as a professional. You go in and represent your country in the Olympics and I think it would be fantastic if amateurs could do that.

It’s so tough because the Olympics is right in the middle of the season and it just messes with the whole schedule. But I do want to represent my country in Rio.

I am excited about it because the last time a golfer won a gold medal was 1904 so that’s a long time ago.

People train their whole lives to win a medal or just compete at the Olympic Games, so to win one would be amazing.

Whenever you represent your country you are doing something great.

If I look at my trophy case one day and see a gold medal and you’re talking about it with your son or your grandkids, that goes down in history forever.

Rory McIlroy

Golf in the Olympics means a lot to the game of golf. This is the first time golf has been in the Olympics for a long time and if the best players aren’t there, supporting the event and competing in it, then what’s the point? I feel like I have a responsibility to grow the game, as part of a group of players who can spread this game throughout the world.

Personally, a gold medal for me would mean a lot, but it would take a long time to work out how much it means at the end of my career. 

Rickie Fowler

I’ll take a major [over an Olympic medal]. I can’t really say it would be a dream come true, just because golf hasn’t been in the Olympics for so long.

I’ve always enjoyed watching the Olympics and it would be cool to be there among the best athletes in the world. 

Any time you get to represent your country, it’s always a lot of fun. To be there to represent the US, and be there for opening and closing ceremonies, it is definitely something I would like to experience. 

Henrik Stenson

I’m really looking forward to it. If I could do myself, my family and my country proud in winning a medal that would be fantastic. 

To compete there and have a chance to win a medal would be very special. I think it’s going to be very special for the player who wins the gold medal to be the first to win since golf came back into the Olympics. It’s something you’ll be remembered for for the rest of your life. 

NEXT: All you need to know about golf at the Olympics