Although many top golfers are opting out of the Olympics this summer in Rio, I am still excited to watch the golf competition to see how it unfolds in history.

I have great respect for all the Olympians whom have spent a life time training for their one chance at glory, which may only last 10 seconds on a track or two minutes in a pool.  Although golfers may have not grown up dreaming of winning a gold medal like other athletes, I think once the golfers get to Olympics and feel the atmosphere, they will appreciate the competition and relish in the moment.  Let’s hope anyway.

The first modern Olympic Games, held in Athens in 1896, had 14 nations represented with 43 events. However, it wasn’t until the Paris Olympics, where 28 nations were represented, that golf was listed as one of the 75 events. The men played two rounds (36 holes) to decide the medals, and women played a 9-hole tournament. The men’s gold medal winner was Walter Rutherford of Jedburgh, Scotland and the women’s gold medal winner was  Margaret Abbott of the Chicago Golf Club.

The 2016 Summer Olympics will be the first time for golf to be played at the Olympics since the 1904 Summer Olympics and it is to feature two events, the men’s and women’s individual events.  These Olympics will feature  a 72-hole individual stroke play tournament. In the event of a tie for any of the first three positions, a three-hole playoff will determine the medal winners.

The US Men’s Olympic Team includes: Bubba Watson, Rickie Fowler, Patrick Reed and Matt Kuchar.

The US Women’s Olympic Team includes: Lexi Thompson, Stacy Lewis and Gerina Pillar.

GO TEAM USA!