Richard Green wants Rio gold.. for Norway

• Tour professional duo ready to go for gold in Rio
• Richard Green to caddie for fiancee Marianne Skarpnord
• But the Aussie admits he has no idea what to expect

Australian European Tour pro Richard Green will be doing his utmost to win gold at the Olympics – but for Norway.

Confused? Well, the 45-year-old is on the bag for his fiancée Marianne Skarpnord as golf makes its return to the Olympic fold and, being a veteran of 20 seasons on the European Tour, says he isn’t sure what’s in store when he heads to Rio de Janeiro.

“I don’t know what to expect really,” said Richard Green. “I think everything will be pretty average and I’m unsure what standard it’s going to be because it’s a different event and different people are organising it. The way they go about things might not necessarily be the same way the men’s and women’s tours run tournaments so I don’t know how it’s going to feel.

“I’ve no clue what the accommodation is going to be like either because everything is temporary. We’re stepping into the unknown so we’ll have to wait and see.

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“But Marianne has been playing some really nice golf in preparation. I’ve been impressed with her game so I see no reason why she can’t play well over the next few weeks going into the Olympics.”

Richard Green is caddying for Skarpnord at the Ladies’ Scottish Open and next week’s Women’s British Open before the pair jet out to Brazil on August 12 – and it comes only two weeks after Skarpnord was forced to caddie for Green at the Scottish Open, where he finished ten-over-par.

“I’d not long finished with my usual caddie so I was at a bit of a transition stage so she filled in for the week which was the first time she’s done so in a full tournament,” Richard Green explained. “I’ve done it quite a few times for her now and to be honest, I quite enjoy it and caddying for her this week gives me a good chance to look at the course for next year’s Scottish Open.

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“We’re both players and know what the game’s about. It’s probably not what we’re both wanting to do but it’s a support process and we both support each other when we’re caddying.”

With the pair both tour professionals, based in Skarpnord’s hometown of Sarpsborg, Norway, you’d think playing around the world on a regular basis makes for a tough personal life. Not according to Green.

“We don’t find it that difficult, we just manage with it,” said Richard Green. “We’re both professional golfers and we both know what the lifestyle is like. It’s very different to somebody who works from 9-5 and lives at home and doesn’t travel.

“The world is our backyard and if she goes off to China and I go to Australia, it’s like we’re just away to play golf and we’ll be back. It’s as simple as that really. What gets difficult at times is when we have a lot of time off and you get used to life at home and then all of a sudden you have to go away again.”

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Richard Green :: European Tour

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