(ATR) Brazilian Adilson Da Silva has the honor of hitting the first tee shot at 7:30am on the 604-yard, par five, first hole as the men’s Olympic Golf Tournament begins on Thursday.
Da Silva is grouped with Korean Byeong Hun An – whose parents both won Olympic medals in table tennis in Seoul 1988 – and Canadian Graham DeLaet, a symbolic gesture as his countryman George Lyon won a gold medal the last time golf was played at the Games in 1904.
The 44-year-old Brazilian golfer from Santa Cruz du Sol told Around the Rings "never in his wildest dreams" did he imagine he would have this opportunity.
"The dream is there to be a great player and win big events, but getting to the Olympics at home, it’s like wow, a cherry on top," Da Silva said. "I’m the luckiest guy alive."
There is criticism that the first Olympic golf tournament in 112 years is watered down as 20 or so pros, including the top four in the world, have opted out citing Zika or scheduling. Despite the withdrawals, there are still six major champions and seven of the world’s top 15 players teeing off in Rio.
International Golf Federation vice-president Ty Votaw says the players competing in Rio are quickly becoming the story.
"The focus on Thursday will be on the Olympians, the Olympians who are playing and not on the players who may or may not be Olympians in Tokyo come 2020," Votaw said.
"Up until now, the reverse has been the case, but starting Thursday once balls are in the air the focus will rightfully be on the Olympians who are trying to win gold, silver and bronze," said the IGF official.
Votaw admitted he was disappointed with the comments of Rory McIlroy, who mocked Olympic golf at the Open Championship at Royal Troon last month. The three-time major champion said he would only watch swimming, diving and track and field – "the sports that matter."
The six major champions in the field are Padraig Harrington (IRL), Martin Kaymer (GER), Bubba Watson (USA), Justin Rose (GBR), Danny Willett (GBR) and Henrik Stenson (SWE).
Stenson, who won his first major at The Open Championship in Scotland last month, is the highest ranked player in the field currently at world number five.
Partnered together in the second group on Thursday are Ireland’s Harrington and Italian Matteo Manassero, both of whom accompanied Votaw and IGF president Peter Dawson to the IOC session in 2009 when golf was voted back into the Games.
High Marks for Olympic Golf Course
Manassero said he is impressed by the test that the 7,124-yard, links-style, Reserva de Marapendi Olympic course presents.
"It’s a really cool course – to be recently built, it’s in great condition," said Manassero, following a nine-hole practice round. "It’s a course built using the natural slopes – around the greens there are more hills to make it more challenging, but it’s nice."
"This course is more than good, the guys put on a show here," Da Silva said complimenting groundskeepers and others involved with preparations at Reserva de Marapendi. "I’m proud of this course – I can’t believe what I am seeing here."
"We’re spending every waking moment making sure that the course is in the best possible condition it can be for these great players," Votaw said. "Wind will also be a factor, so we’re making sure we don’t make the greens too speedy because the wind will also affect that."
Votaw applauded course designer Gil Hanse and course superintendent Neil Cleverly for their commitment ensuring that the first Olympic golf tournament in more than a century will be memorable for the 60 men and 60 women playing in Rio.
"When the first tee shot gets hit on Thursday, it will create a real sense of reflection and a real sense of appreciation for all the people who have made this possible," he said.
Written by Brian Pinelli at Reserva de Marapendi Olympic Golf Course
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