Golf Chief: Olympic Course in Rio is Ready

(ATR)The head of the International Golf Federation is endorsing the Rio Olympic golf course.

"We could play there now," Peter Dawson said during an interview with ESPN on Monday.

The interview took place in the backdrop of the fourth round of competition at the 2015 British Open in Fife, Scotland.

Dawson said the Olympic golf course in Rio will be "up to scratch" following one more growing season.

Golf will be part of the Olympic program next year for the first time since 1904.The Olympic golf teams will be chosen in July of next year based on the world rankings at that time.

"The game of golf runs major events around the world almost every week of the year," Dawson added, "and I'm sure we'll put on a good show in Rio."

The 65-year-old is set to retire as chief executive of The R&A and secretary of The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrewsin September, according to Golf Digest, after 16 years at the post. The R&A was founded in 1754.

Pan Am Golfers on Road to Rio 2016

Golf made its Pan American Games debut in Toronto last week.

Colombian professional golferMariajo Uribe, who won a gold medal in the women's individual competition, is now setting her sight on Rio 2016.

"Coming from a country where there are only two Olympic gold medals in our whole history, it's a good opportunity for me," Uribe told ESPN on Sunday.

"I'm really excited about it, and it's a big deal back home."

Fellow Colombian golf pro Marcelo Rozo, who won gold at the Pan Ams in the men's individual competition, echoed Uribe's enthusiasm.

"It's about one year ahead of us, but this is a great step," Rozo said.

He added, "I'm just going to keep working, do my best everywhere I go, lift my flag all the way to the top and try to make my country proud."

United States golfer Beau Hossler said that the number of countries represented at the Rio Games will lead to greater exposure for the sport.

"In tournaments like the Masters, there are probably only eight or 10 countries represented," Hossler said.

"I don't know what the number is for the Olympics, but it will probably be 30-plus.

"That's pretty incredible stuff and I think it will inspire people watching on TV to go buy some clubs."

The 2015 Pan American Games opened on July 10 in the Ontario capital of Toronto.The program for the Pan Ams includes some 364 events in 36 sports.

Sixteen sports on the program are serving as qualifiers for the 2016 Rio Olympics. Competition ends on July 26.

Bach Wants Golfers in Rio Olympic Village

IOC president Thomas Bach is encouraging golfers at the 2016 Rio Olympics to stay in the athletes' village during competition.

"First of all, and this most important, I am confident we will have all the best golf players of the world performing in Rio de Janeiro," Bach told reporters while at the British Open this weekend.

"I can only advise them to stay in the Olympic Village because if they don't, afterwards they will regret it."

Speculation over where golfers will stay during the Rio Games is reminiscent of controversy that followed the 1992 U.S. Olympic basketball team.

The 1992 Barcelona Olympics marked the first time that NBA players were eligible to compete at the Games. The U.S. delegation opted to stay at a hotel in Barcelona instead of in the athletes' village.

Bach told reporters that the IOC now requires all athletes planning to attend the Olympics to stay in the Games village.

Written byNicole Bennett

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