Olympic Games Golf Field Announced as Spieth Withdraws

World no. 9 Danny Willett and no. 11 Justin Rose make up Team GB

Olympic games golf
(Image credit: Getty Images)

The full 60 man Olympic field has been announced whilst world number three Jordan Spieth has withdrawn, citing Zika virus concerns

Olympic Games Golf Field Announced as Spieth Withdraws

The 2016 Olympic Games golf tournament field has been announced, and 40 countries will be represented.

World number five Henrik Stenson representing Sweden will be the highest ranked player in Rio after Jordan Spieth announced his withdrawal earlier today.

Olympic Games Golf field announced

The field in full for the Olympic Games

The world number three Spieth cited the Zika virus for his pull-out. Matt Kuchar will replace him in the US team.

Great Britain will be represented by Danny Willett and Justin Rose, with Padraig Harrington and world number 290 Seamus Power making up Ireland's pair.

Only nine of the world's top 30 are in the field, with the world rankings going down to 321 with Malaysia's Gavin Kyle Green.

None of the world's top four players are included - Jason Day, Dustin Johnson, Jordan Spieth and Rory McIlroy - with them all withdrawing.

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Peter Dawson, President of the International Golf Federation, said: “After eight years of intense planning and preparation for golf’s historic return to the Olympic Games, the IGF is extremely excited finally to have reached this important milestone of identifying those players who are eligible to compete in Rio de Janeiro.

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“We are particularly gratified to see how many countries are represented among the men and women and anticipate compelling competitions for both on the outstanding golf course that Gil Hanse and Amy Alcott have created. It has taken a tremendous amount of work by a number of people to get to this stage, and we at the IGF are extremely grateful for the role each and every one of them has played in making this possible.”

The Olympic Games golf tournament takes place from 11th-14th August for men and 17th-20th for women.

Elliott Heath
News Editor

Elliott Heath is our News Editor and has been with Golf Monthly since early 2016 after graduating with a degree in Sports Journalism. He manages the Golf Monthly news team as well as our large Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages. He covered the 2022 Masters from Augusta National as well as five Open Championships on-site including the 150th at St Andrews. His first Open was in 2017 at Royal Birkdale, when he walked inside the ropes with Jordan Spieth during the Texan's memorable Claret Jug triumph. He has played 35 of our Top 100 golf courses, with his favourites being both Sunningdales, Woodhall Spa, Western Gailes, Old Head and Turnberry. He has been obsessed with the sport since the age of 8 and currently plays off of a six handicap. His golfing highlights are making albatross on the 9th hole on the Hotchkin Course at Woodhall Spa, shooting an under-par round, playing in the Aramco Team Series on the Ladies European Tour and making his one and only hole-in-one at the age of 15 - a long time ago now!


Elliott is currently playing:


Driver: Titleist TSR4

3 wood: Titleist TSi2

Hybrids: Titleist 816 H1

Irons: Mizuno MP5 5-PW

Wedges: Cleveland RTX ZipCore 50, 54, 58

Putter: Odyssey White Hot OG #5

Ball: Srixon Z Star XV