He moved to another continent in pursuit of his dream, but now Adilson da Silva is looking to his homeland to provide the highlight of his career. Brazil’s highest-ranked golfer, who plies his trade in southern Africa, is on course to become his country’s first representative in an Olympic golf competition, when the sport returns after a 112-year absence at the Rio 2016 Games.

“It would be very special,” said the 43-year-old, who represented Brazil in the World Cup of Golf in 2011 and 2013, but has played in Brazil just once since leaving more than 20 years ago. “Representing my country has always been very special, but the Olympic Games would be even more thrilling. It would be an honour and a dream for me, and I’m really focused on this.”

Da Silva is currently ranked 330th in the world and as Brazil has one place guaranteed in the men’s and women’s tournaments in Rio, he is looking good for a historical appearance. His nearest challenger for the host nation’s slot is Rafael Becker, currently ranked 662nd.

Da Silva believes that golf's return to the Olympic Games in Rio will help grow the sport in Brazil (Chris McGrath/Getty Images)

The planet’s top 60 male and female golfers according to the rankings on 11 July 2016 will qualify for the Rio 2016 Games, with a limit of four athletes per country. Da Silva, who now lives in South Africa and plays on the Sunshine Tour, is savouring the idea of testing himself against the world’s best on home soil.

“The Olympic tournament will have an extremely high level, with lots of very strong players,” he told rio2016.com. “It would be a great experience and opportunity for me. I feel well and confident that I will maintain my ranking and qualify.”

After falling in love with golf as a child and standing out on the local amateur scene, Da Silva left his home in the south of Brazil at the age of 19, moving to Zimbabwe on his own, in pursuit of a professional career.

Now he hopes that golf’s return to the Games – and the construction of the Olympic Golf Course in Rio, which will be open to the public after the Games – will inspire a growth of interest and participation in the sport in his homeland.

“We need to awaken the public’s curiosity in golf and bring fans closer to the sport, and the Olympic Games will certainly help with this,” he said. “I have no doubt that interest will grow because of the Games and the sport will get the attention of many people.”