Golf Fields For Rio Olympics Confirmed

Golf is returning the the Olympics after 112 years and boasts a diverse list of players, although the big-name omissions from the men’s field are difficult to overlook.

Golf Fields For Rio Olympics Confirmed

Golfers from 41 countries will be participating in the event, which will be held at Rio’s Reserva de Marapendi Golf Course from August 11-14 (men) and August 17-20 (women).

Across men and women, there will be 32 players from Asia, seven from Australia and Oceania, and five from Africa.

Europe, North America and South America will have 52, 14 and 10 representatives respectively.

In the men’s event, American Bubba Watson is the top seed despite being surpassed in the world rankings by Swede Henrik Stenson, who won his first major title at the British Open on Sunday.

Rickie Fowler, reigning Masters champion Danny Willett of England and Englishman Justin Rose round out the top five.

World No. 1 Lydia Ko will be the top contender in the women’s event, as the 19-year-old New Zealander has won four tournaments this year, including the ANA Inspiration, her second major title.

Canadian teen Brooke Henderson, who won her first major title at the Women’s PGA Championship last month, Inbee Park, Lexi Thompson and Sei Young Kim complete the top five in the seedings.

Many top players, including men’s World No. 1 Jason Day of Australia, Jordan Spieth and Rory McIlroy, will miss the Olympics due to concerns over the mosquito-born Zika virus, personal/family reasons, or busy schedules.

Here is the list of golfers competing in both the men’s and women’s event (60 in each, bold indicates unsure if will compete because of doping investigations, in this case four Russian athletes):

Men

1. Bubba Watson (USA)
2. Henrik Stenson (SWE)
3. Rickie Fowler (USA)
4. Danny Willett (GBR)
5. Justin Rose (GBR)
6. Sergio Garcia (ESP)
7. Patrick Reed (USA)
8. Matt Kuchar (USA)
9. Rafa Cabrera Bello (ESP)
10. Byeong Hun An (KOR)
11. Thongchai Jaidee (THA)
12. Danny Lee (NZL)
13. Emiliano Grillo (ARG)
14. David Lingmerth (SWE)
15. Soren Kjeldsen (DEN)
16. Bernd Wiesberger (AUT)
17. Martin Kaymer (GER)
18. Kiradech Aphibarnrat (THA)
19. Anirban Lahiri (IND)
20. Thorbjorn Olesen (DEN)
21. Joost Luiten (NED)
22. Thomas Pieters (BEL)
23. Jaco van Zyl (RSA)
24. Fabian Gomez (ARG)
25. Jeunghun Wang (KOR)
26. Scott Hend (AUS)
27. Marcus Fraser (AUS)
28. Brandon Stone (RSA)
29. Yuta Ikeda (JPN)
30. Shingo Katayama (JPN)
31. Gregory Bourdy (FRA)
32. Julien Quesne (FRA)
33. Nicolas Colsaerts (BEL)
34. Ricardo Gouveia (POR)
35. David Hearn (CAN)
36. Wu Ashun (CHN)
37. Miguel Tabuena (PHI)
38. Hao Tong Li (CHN)
39. Alex Cejka (GER)
40. Graham DeLaet (CAN)
41. Fabrizio Zanotti (PAR)
42. Padraig Harrington (IRL)
43. Ryan Fox (NZL)
44. SSP Chawrasia (IND)
45. Danny Chia (MAS)
46. Mikko Ilonen (FIN)
47. Jhonattan Vegas (VEN)
48. Felipe Aguilar (CHI)
49. Cheng Tsung Pan (TPE)
50. Adilson da Silva (BRA)
51. Seamus Power (IRL)
52. Espen Kofstad (NOR)
53. Roope Kakko (FIN)
54. Nino Bertasio (ITA)
55. Siddikur Rahman (BAN)
56. Wen-Tang Lin (TPE)
57. Gavin Kyle Green (MAS)
58. Matteo Manassero (ITA)
59. Rodolfo Cazaubon (MEX)
60. Jose-Filipe Lima (POR)

Women

1. Lydia Ko (NZL)
2. Brooke M. Henderson (CAN)
3. Inbee Park (KOR)
4. Lexi Thompson (USA)
5. Sei Young Kim (KOR)
6. Amy Yang (KOR)
7. Ariya Jutanugarn (THA)
8. In Gee Chun (KOR)
9. Stacy Lewis (USA)
10. Anna Nordqvist (SWE)
11. Shanshan Feng (CHN)
12. Minjee Lee (AUS)
13. Gerina Piller (USA)
14. Suzann Pettersen (NOR)
15. Harukyo Nomura (JPN)
16. Charley Hull (GBR)
17. Teresa Lu (TPE)
18. Candie Kung (TPE)
19. Pornanong Phatlum (THA)
20. Carlota Ciganda (ESP)
21. Su-Hyun Oh (AUS)
22. Shiho Oyama (JPN)
23. Azahara Munoz (ESP)
24. Xiyu Lin (CHN)
25. Sandra Gal (GER)
26. Karine Icher (FRA)
27. Catriona Matthew (GBR)
28. Caroline Masson (GER)
29. Nicole Broch Larsen (DEN)
30. Pernilla Lindberg (SWE)
31. Alena Sharp (CAN)
32. Gaby Lopez (MEX)
33. Mariajo Uribe (COL)
34. Nanna Koerstz Madsen (DEN)
35. Paula Reto (RSA)
36. Gwladys Nocera (FRA)
37. Julieta Granada (PAR)
38. Kelly Tan (MAS)
39. Marianne Skarpnord (NOR)
40. Ashleigh Simon (RSA)
41. Laetitia Beck (ISR)
42. Giulia Molinaro (ITA)
43. Ursula Wikstrom (FIN)
44. Noora Tamminen (FIN)
45. Klara Spilkova (CZE)
46. Christine Wolf (AUT)
47. Giulia Sergas (ITA)
48. Maria Verchenova (RUS)
49. Leona Maguire (IRL)
50. Albane Valenzuela (SUI)
51. Alejandra Llaneza (MEX)
52. Chloe Leurquin (BEL)
53. Fabienne In-Albon (SUI)
54. Tiffany Chan (HKG)
55. Michelle Koh (MAS)
56. Aditi Ashok (IND)
57. Miriam Nagl (BRA)
58. Victoria Lovelady (BRA)
59. Stephanie Meadow (IRL)
60. Maha Haddioui (MAR)

Caption:PACIFIC PALISADES, CA – FEBRUARY 21: Bubba Watson tees off on the 12th hole during the final round of the Northern Trust Open at Riviera Country Club on February 21, 2016 in Pacific Palisades, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

Article by Pablo Mena