Olympic Golf: Top players ready for Rio

• Golfers arrived in Rio ready for Olympic battle
• Kaymer, Rose & Fowler amongst those competing
• Men’s event set to get underway on Thursday

After years of a build-up Olympic golf is now just two days away, with the men’s event set to get underway on Thursday in Rio de Janeiro.

When Brazilian pro Adilson Da Silva strikes the first shot at 7.30am local time (11.30am UK), a 114-year gap since golf’s last appearance in the quadrennial sporting showpiece will be bridged. Fittingly, Da Silva will tee off alongside Canada’s Graham DeLaet, whose countryman George Lyon won gold in 1904, the last time golf was part of the Olympic programme. Byeong Hun An, the son of two Olympic table tennis medalists at the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul, will complete the opening threesome.

Players have started to arrive to get to know the new Gil Hanse-designed course ahead of the tournament getting started. Here are some of the best pics from Monday’s first practise round…

Danny Lee and Ryan Fox look in relaxed mood as they prepare to represent New Zealand.

Rickie Fowler is one of four Americans in the field. He’s joined in Rio by Bubba Watson, Matt Kuchar and Patrick Reed.

Joost Luiten is the sole Dutch representative in Rio. Presume he’s saving the famous Dutch ‘Oranje’ gear for Thursday…

Thorbjorn Olesen of Denmark poses with the official Rio mascot, Vinicius. The mascot pays tribute to Brazilian musician Vinicius de Moraes and is, apparently, a mix of different Brazilian animals.

Wu Ashun, the world No.142, will be hoping to add Olympic gold to his two European Tour titles. The most recent of those came in June at the Lyoness Open so he’s a man on form.

Speaking of men on form, here’s Venezuela’s Jhonattan Vegas. The 31-year-old won his second PGA Tour title just a fortnight ago at the RBC Canadian Open.

Team GB’s Danny Willett with that mascot again. Masters champion Willett has been making the most of being an Olympian, taking in Andy and Jamie Murray’s doubles defeat in the tennis. He’ll be hoping to fare better when he gets his own Olympics underway on Thursday alongside Matt Kuchar and Li Haotong.

Brazil’s Adilson Da Silva is the sole home hopeful in the field and will have the honour of striking the opening tee shot on Thursday morning.

Ireland’s team leader Paul McGinley, centre, is flanked by Padraig Harrington, left, and Harrington’s caddie Ronan Flood. Can 44-year-old Paddy – the oldest player in the field – add Olympic gold to his three major titles?

Open champion Henrik Stenson, right, is one of the bookies’ favourites for gold following his win at Royal Troon last month. The Swedish world No.5, pictured above with compatriot David Lingmerth, is the highest ranked player in the field.

Rafa Cabrera Bello will, alongside Sergio Garcia, represent Spain in Rio. The Spaniard tweeted yesterday to say that he’s ‘loving every minute’ of his Olympic experience so far

Former world No.1 Martin Kaymer getting his eye in on the Rio golf course alongside his Scottish caddie Craig Connelly.

Justin Rose is relaxed and ready to go ahead of his Olympics debut. The 2013 US Open champ represents Team GB alongside the aforementioned Willett.

Kiradech Aphibarnrat missed the defence of his Paul Lawrie Match Play title last week to prepare for the Olympics. Can he deliver just a tenth Olympic gold medal for Thailand?

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Olympic Golf: Will you be watching?

BBC1 will be broadcasting the Olympic golf coverage live from Rio from this Thursday. Will you be tuning in? Leave your thoughts in our ‘Comments’ section below.

Michael McEwan is the Deputy Editor of bunkered and has been part of the team since 2004. In that time, he has interviewed almost every major figure within the sport, from Jack Nicklaus, to Rory McIlroy, to Donald Trump. The host of the multi award-winning bunkered Podcast and a member of Balfron Golfing Society, Michael is the author of three books and is the 2023 PPA Scotland 'Writer of the Year' and 'Columnist of the Year'. Dislikes white belts, yellow balls and iron headcovers. Likes being drawn out of the media ballot to play Augusta National.

Deputy Editor