“When they announced that golf will be at the Olympics, I said ‘Hey, I want to get myself on that team,’ If you end up getting a medal that’s great, but to say I’m an Olympian, I think that’s a pretty proud thing to say,”—Lydia Ko (New Zealand)
“It will be a very special feeling. I have talked to other athletes about it already and it will be something completely new for me to be part of such a big team. I don’t know exactly how it is decided who carries the flag, but that would be the ultimate.”—Martin Kaymer (Germany)
“Being the first golfer to win a gold medal after such a long break will mean a lot to the athlete that wins it. You will always be recognized as the first one in the modern era to win an Olympic gold medal in golf. It would help in every part – both for golf in my country but also for myself.”—Martin Kaymer (Germany)
“(Winning an Olympic Golf Gold Medal) would be definitely up there. You can win a major four times a year, but an Olympic gold medal [happens] only once every four years. It would be very special to me.”—Martin Kaymer (Germany)
“I will be in Rio, have no plans for more children & averaged 70 last year. Ready to play if anymore withdrawals.”—Gary Player (South Africa, after Louis Oosthuizen, Charl Schwartzel, & Branden Grace withdrew)