Golf’s comeback to the Olympic calendar is a reason for past, present and future players to celebrate. Sporting legends that did not have the opportunity to compete at the Olympic Games, such as Greg Norman, from Australia, and Gary Player, from South Africa, say that Golf is currently experiencing its best moment in history. That is all well and good for today’s and tomorrow’s golfers, who will be able to enjoy this success.

Norman spent 331 weeks as Number 1 at the world ranking in the 80’s and 90’s, and he made sports history by winning 91 titles as a professional including two majors – the Open Championship of 1986 and 1993. The Shark, as he is known, said in an exclusive interview with the rio2016.com website that the sport is experiencing a new era.

“I never witnessed such a special moment for Golf before. It really is a global sport, and its return to the Olympic Games will significantly contribute to promoting the sport. I believe that the Rio 2016™ Games will be very important for the sport’s development”, said the 58 year-old Australian, who is an Ambassador for OMEGA, the official timekeeper for the Rio 2016™ Olympic and Paralympic Games.

An opinion similar to that of Gary Player, from South Africa, who was in Brazil last week as a special guest of the Brasil Classic, the country’s main Golf tournament, which took place in São Paulo in the beginning of April.

“I’m very excited with Golf’s return to the Olympic Games. This will be a huge opportunity for the sport to grow and develop, not only in Brazil but also in the rest of the world, and especially in emerging markets like China and India” said the 77 year-old former player.

Known as the Black Knight, Player has won more titles at the US Masters than any other non-US citizen and is one of five golfers of all times to have won the Grand Slam (the calendar’s four main tournaments, US Open, The Open Championship, Masters and PGA Championship), along with Ben Hogan, Gene Sarazen, Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods.

In São Paulo, where he won the Brazil Open in 1972 and 1974, Player taught Golf to young Brazilians, who were charmed by the South African’s simplicity. “I enjoyed the tips and teachings very much. It was a fantastic experience”, said Cristian Barcelos, 18, from Rio de Janeiro.

Charl Schwartzel and Jim Furyk comment Golf’s return to the Games

Apart from Golf’s living legends, the best current players cannot hide their joy at Golf’s present moment. Charl Schwartzel is one of them. He is from South Africa and only 28 years old, but he has already earned more than US$16 million in prize money.

“When one talks about the Olympic Games, one thinks of people running the 100m, swimming or doing an Artistic Gymnastics routine. It’s very special for golfers to have the chance of winning gold medals, for Golf to be part of it all”, commented the 2011 US Masters champion.

According to him, Brazil may become a new destination for the world’s greatest golfers. “Of course only time will tell but, in case the world’s greatest players compete in Rio 2016™, it’s hard to believe it won’t have a huge impact in Brazil. It’ll help increase Golf’s visibility, different people will watch it and it will generate a greater interest for Golf in Brazil”, he said in an exclusive interview.

Jim Furyk, from the US, is the 2003 US Open champion. He said everyone stands to gain from Golf’s return to the Games. “I believe it’s not only fantastic for the sport, but for the Olympic Games as well. I believe Golf belongs in the Olympic Games. There is room for such a huge range of sports and activities in the Olympic Games that, for me, it makes sense for a sport like Golf to be included”, he said, before concluding:

“Brazil is famous for its sporting events and teams, but not yet for Golf. I believe that with the Olympic Games taking place in Rio de Janeiro, and Golf being part of them, it’ll surely be a win-win situation. Certainly, Golf will be watched by many sports fans and in case Golf manages to grab the attention of these fans that have never had contact with the sport, then, it’ll be a victory for everyone”.