The sport’s reintroduction to the Olympics has had its share of setbacks and naysayers. British Open champion Henrik Stenson, an imposing figure in golf, felt small next to some of the other athletes in the gym at the Olympic Village.
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Rose has already been in Brazil for nearly a week, taking part in last week’s opening ceremony before spending much of this week trawling the venues cheering on his team-mates. He also mentioned how he is “really excited to have the opportunity to represent Team GB”.
Golf Australia’s high performance director Brad James has set up camp in Rio in his role as assistant to team leader Ian Baker-Finch for the Australian Olympic golf team.
The remaining spots went to the world’s top-ranked players from countries that don’t already have two players in the field, with 34 nationalities represented in the men’s tournament.
Palmer predicts that the Olympic platform will help to globalise interest in golf in a way that has previously been unimaginable.
Rose will hope his seven year wait is worth it and is looking to draw on the inspiration of those around him.
One thing to say for Reed, though: If he’s comfortable with the black hat, he’s even more comfortable wearing the red, white and blue. “You get chills watching them when they do well”. ‘I know a year when you don’t win a major is not supposed to be a great one but this would be for me if I was standing on the top step of the podium on Sunday’.
“As for making guys jealous back home, I feel like I am doing a pretty good job of it”, Fowler said.
Under overcast skies and in calm conditions ideal for scoring, Da Silva was welcomed to the first tee by a smattering of applause and the whirl from hundreds of cameras as media and officials greatly outnumbered fans sprinkled through a small almost empty stand. While some are meant to notify golfers and the gallery that Brazilian law protects wild plants and animals, some are there to warn them of risky animals such as alligators.
It’s a matter of great debate as to whether Hitler was going to present his own trophy to the winners.
Trawling through their social media, it is clear they share Rose’s enthusiasm for the tournament and the prospect of landing a medal.
‘This is the most fun I’ve had in a long time, ‘ said Willett.
The Americans have four players competing in the tournament compared with their rivals who have a maximum of two.
Asked what elements needed to fall into place this week to make golf’s return to the Games a success, Sergio Garcia waded through all of the distractions that have become the calling card for this competition.
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“I thought, they are actually here, they are actually playing our golf course. I don’t think it’s as big as a major in terms of build-up and stuff like that”. “But it’s cool. If I was a Capybara I’d love to live at the Olympic golf course”.
