The Winter Games get underway this week in Sochi, Russia, which serves as yet another reminder that golf’s return to the Olympics is not too far away.
The 2016 competition will feature 60 men and 60 women in separate 72-hole stroke-play tournaments that will award gold, silver and bronze medals.
The top 15 players in the Official World Golf Ranking and Rolex World Ranking automatically qualify, but each country is allowed no more than four players if they are among the top 15. After the top 15, countries can be represented by no more than two of their highest-ranked players if not already qualified.
Much if subject to change, of course – Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson will be 40 and 46, respectively – but if the competition began tomorrow, here are some of the players in the mix to compete in the event in Rio de Janeiro:
MEN
United States: Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Zach Johnson, Matt Kuchar
Great Britain: Justin Rose, Rory McIlroy (may compete for Ireland, or not at all), Ian Poulter, Luke Donald
Ireland: Rory McIlroy (may compete for Great Britain, or not at all), Graeme McDowell, Shane Lowry, Padraig Harrington
South Africa: Charl Schwartzel, Louis Oosthuizen, Ernie Els, Branden Grace
Australia: Adam Scott, Jason Day, Marc Leishman, Brett Rumford
Sweden: Henrik Stenson, Jonas Blixt, Peter Hanson, Carl Pettersson
Spain: Sergio Garcia, Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano, Miguel Angel Jimenez, Pablo Larrazabal
WOMEN
United States: Stacy Lewis, Lexi Thompson, Paula Creamer, Cristie Kerr
South Korea: Inbee Park, So Yeon Ryu, Na Yeon Choi, I.K. Kim
Japan: Mika Miyazato, Ai Miyazato, Sakura Yokomine, Rikako Morita
Sweden: Caroline Hedwall, Anna Nordqvist, Pernilla Lindberg
Spain: Beatriz Recari, Azahara Munoz, Carlota Ciganda