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Stenson ready for Rio challenge
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Stenson ready for Rio challenge

Henrik Stenson insists he has plenty of fuel left in the tank as he attempts to turn his glorious summer into a golden one in Rio de Janeiro.

Henrik Stenson

The Swede heads into the Olympic Men's Golf Competition in brilliant form, having won the BMW International Open in June and then claimed The Open Championship in stunning fashion with a 20 under total.

Stenson - the World Number Five - is the highest ranked player in the field in Brazil and, despite his last two tournaments having involved the pressure of the business end of Major Championships, he insists there is no fatigue.

Henrik Stenson

"It's been a question of trying to recuperate some energy and get back to finding some energy," he said.

"I've taken it fairly easy the last ten days in that sense, in terms of golf practice. I've had a couple days here now to practise and play and I think once we get going here, the motivation is going to be very high to perform well.

It's been an event I've been looking forward to participating in and playing well in for a long time - Henrik Stenson

"It's definitely a highlight. In general, I'm a big sporting fan, so to be in this environment, it's been both motivating and fun. I've watched some other sports, participated in the opening ceremony, that's certainly something to remember.

"It's always an honour to represent your country and that's a big reason why I'm here playing."

Martin Kaymer has long spoken of his enthusiasm for representing Germany and despite having not teed off yet - never mind won a medal - the 31 year old is already enjoying the "greatest week of my career".

Martin Kaymer in Olympic preparation

That is quite the claim from a man who has won two Majors, the Race to Dubai, and spent time as World Number One.

Like Stenson, he was present at the opening ceremony, and Kaymer believes he is seeing other sports in a different light due to his Olympic experience.

"If you see the other athletes, how much work that they put into this week and the love that they have for their sport, it's a completely different approach of playing your sport right now," he said. "You gain so much respect for the other athletes and you see your sport a little bit different, too.

It will take a couple weeks to realise what really happened here but it's so far already the greatest week of my career - Martin Kaymer

"Our leader at the opening ceremony, Timo Boll, he was in front, and then behind him was a hockey player and the hockey player started singing the National Anthem when we walked in. And then you have 250 world class athletes behind you singing the National Anthem. Now that is special."

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