Today marks 100 days to go until the Opening Ceremony of the postponed Tokyo Olympics gets underway. With the countdown to the Olympics well and truly on, we have delved into the archives to look back at what went on at the Games in Rio de Janeiro.
Golf returned to the Olympic programme in 2016 – it was the first women’s golf tournament at the Olympics since 1900 – with the competition taking place at the Olympic Golf Course at The Barra de Tijuca between August 17 – 20. There were 60 players representing 34 countries which included 57 professionals and three amateurs.
Round-up of the action
After the first round had been completed, Thailand’s Ariya Jutanugarn led the field having shot a 65 (-6) with South Korean duo Kim Sei-young and Inbee Park one shot behind. Denmark’s Nicole Broch Larsen and Spain’s Carlota Ciganda recorded a 67 (-4) alongside Candie Kung from Chinese Taipei. While India’s Aditi Ashok, Great Britain’s Charley Hull and Spain’s Azahara Muñoz were a shot further back with USA’s Lexi Thompson.
The second round saw Park head the field at the halfway point with a score of ten-under-par, while USA’s Stacy Lewis shot the low round of the day a 63 to sit one shot behind the leader. Canada’s Brooke Henderson and Hull were a stroke further back on eight-under-par with Broch Larsen, Kung and Norway’s Marianne Skarpnord on seven-under-par.
On Saturday, it was New Zealand’s Lydia Ko who shot the low round of the day of 65 (-6) to propel herself up the leaderboard to T2. She was joined by USA’s Gerina Piller and the duo sat two strokes behind leader Park, while China’s Shanshan Feng was one stroke further behind on eight-under-par. Britain’s Hull remained in contention but another three shots back alongside South Korea’s Chun In-gee and Amy Yang.
The final day saw Park extend her lead and clinch the gold medal in Rio, she completed her round with a 66 (-5). New Zealand’s Ko finished five shots behind the winner to claim silver while China’s Feng secured bronze. Lewis, Yang and Japan’s Haru Nomura finished fourth with Henderson, Hull and Australia’s Minjee Lee in seventh; Norway’s Suzann Pettersen rounded out the top ten.
What the players said
Austria’s Christine Wolf explained: “The 2016 Olympic Games in Rio was really special. I remember being on the first tee and I had goosebumps and was super nervous. Probably the most nervous I have ever been! It is a completely different atmosphere to all the other tournament weeks we have.”
Great Britain’s Charley Hull said: “I always thought it would be great, but the experience was even better than I expected and the course was a lot better than I thought it was going to be. Everyone got a real buzz off each other that week and it was quite different to anything else.”
Spain’s Azahara Muñoz commented: “Being an athlete growing up, I watched every other sport that’s in the Olympics. So finally being able to be a part of it was going to be really special. There’s nothing better than representing your country.”
India’s Aditi Ashok explained: “The grandeur of it all is something you can soak in only when you are there. You can read about it but just being there and mingling with people who are from other sports made it great.”
Ireland’s Leona Maguire said: “It’s the best thing I’ve ever been a part of. It was surreal. You represent your country every week you compete but representing your country at the Olympics is a different level altogether, it’s the biggest sporting event in the world.”
Nanna Koerstz Madsen of Denmark with her bag at the Olympic rings 
Carlota Ciganda of Spain during the Monday Practice round at the Rio 2016 Olympics 
Team Ireland Leona Maguire with her caddie and sister, Lisa, standing behind, Stephanie Meadow and Paul McGinley 
Team Italia, Giulia Sergas and Giulia Molinaro pose with the Olympic Rings 
Sandra Gal of Germany during the second round at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games 
Victoria Lovelady of Brazil with her Husband Jacob during the Monday Practice round
This summer in Tokyo, 60 players will qualify for the women’s competition, which takes place from August 4-7 at Kasumigaseki Country Club.
