Jordan Spieth, Bubba Watson, Rickie Fowler and Dustin Johnson would represent the United States if the men’s team for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro was selected today.
A country can have up to four representatives if they are in the top 15 of the World Golf Rankings and the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings, with the teams set to be selected off the rankings of July 11.
Spieth (pictured with Bubba) is No. 1 in the first rankings released in 2016, followed by Watson at No. 4, Fowler at No. 6 and Johnson at No. 8.
Other formidable teams would be No. 2 Jason Day and No. 10 Adam Scott of Australia, No. 3 Rory McIlroy and No. 15 Shane Lowry of Ireland, No 7 Justin Rose and No. 14 Danny Willett of Great Britain, and No. 11 Branden Grace and No. 13 Louis Oosthuizen of South Africa.
The top players not currently projected to make the field in Rio include No. Jim Furyk, No. 10 Patrick Reed and No. 13 Zach Johnson of the United States, No. 22 Paul Casey of Great Britain, No. 26 Marc Leishman of Australia, No, 30 Russell Knox of Scotland and No. 35 Charl Schwartzel of South Africa.
From the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings, if the U.S. team was selected today, No. 3 Stacy Lewis, No. 4 Lexi Thompson and No. 11 Cristie Kerr would make it, with Brittany Lincicome one spot outside at No. 16.
Representing South Korea would be No. 2 Inbee Park, No. 5 So Yeon Ryu, No. 7 Sei Young Kim and No. 8 Amy Yang.
Top-ranked Lydia Ko would be the lone representative from New Zealand, while No. 18 Brooke Henderson would represent Canada, and No. 18 Minjee Lee and No. 31 Karrie Webb would play for Australia.
There will be 60 players in the field for each tournament, with the men scheduled to play Aug. 11-14 and the women’s even set for Aug. 17-20 on the new Olympic Course designed by Gil Hanse.
Golf has not been played in the Olympics since 1904 in St. Louis.
