History will be made at 7.30am local time on Thursday when BrazilianAdilson da Silvahits the opening tee shot of the Olympic Men’s Golf Competition and golf’s return to the Olympic Games will be complete.
The draw released by the International Golf Federation announces the 20 tee-times for the 60-man field for the first and second rounds at Rio 2016, which features 43 European Tour and Challenge Tour members.
In addition to the host player Da Silva, two further Olympic connections are celebrated in the first group to take to the Olympic Golf Course at Rio de Janiero with Canada’s Graham DeLaet, whose countryman George Lyon won the Olympic gold medal in 1904, the last time golf was part of the Olympic programme, teeing off second. And, Byeong Hun An, the son of two Olympic table tennis medalists at the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul, will complete the group.
Three-time Major Champion Padraig Harringtonfrom Ireland and Italy’sMatteo Manassero, both of whom formed part of the International Golf Federation’s delegation that presented golf’s case for inclusion in the Games at the 2009 IOC Session in Copenhagen, will play together in the second group out at 7.41am, and will joined by New Zealand’sDanny Lee.
#OlympicGolf. 2 early times 2nd off at 7.41 Thursday and then Friday at 9.36. Could be to my advantage if the wind picks up during the day.
— Padraig Harrington (@padraig_h) August 8, 2016
Other notable tee times include 2016 Masters championDanny Willettfrom Great Britain who will play with American Matt Kucharand China’sHaotong Liat 9.03am. Two-time Masters winner,Bubba Watson, will tee off at 9.14am in the same group as former US Open championMartin Kaymerfrom Germany and India’sAnirban Lahiri.
Sergio Garciameanwhile will have American starPatrick Reedand Emiliano Grillo for company over the first two days of action, whileSiddikur Rahman, who carried Bangladesh’s flag during the Opening Ceremony, will begin his first round at 10.14am alongside the Netherlands’Joost LuitenandRicardo Gouveiafrom Portugal.
At 10.58am, World Number SevenRickie Fowlerfrom the USA, former US Open champion Justin Rose, from Great Britain, and VenezuelanJhonattan Vegas, will begin their bid for Olympic gold.
Lastly, at 11.09am The Open champion and World Number Five Henrik Stensonof Sweden will play alongside Thailand’sThongchai Jaideeand Spain's Rafa Cabrera Belloat in Thursday’s final group.
Click here for the full draw and tee times.
