Australian Olympic golf team announced: Fraser, Hend, Lee and Oh set for Rio

The Australian Olympic golf team is now official and set to compete in Rio.

Marcus Fraser, Scott Hend, Minjee Lee and Su Oh are headed to the Rio Olympics to represent the Australian men’s and women’s golf teams, the first time golf has been part of the Olympics since 1904. Each player will be competing in a 72-hole stroke play tournament with the men’s event starting on Day 6 of the Games (august 11) and the women competing on Day 11.

“It’s great to be part of the Olympic team heading to Rio,” Fraser said. “To play in the Olympics is a dream come true, obviously with golf being back for the first time in over 100 years it is pretty amazing and it’s going to be a great week and I can’t wait to represent our great country.”

Hend, who will turn 43 during the final round in Rio, is ready to make the most of his opportunity.

“I’ll go to Brazil and represent Australia the best way that I can,” Hend said. “I’ve never been to Brazil and, while I’ve competed in Mexico and Panama, I’m looking forward to pulling on the green and gold as it will be something different.”

The women’s golf team Minjee Lee has risen to number 14 in the world rankings since she became professional just under two years ago and will head to Rio as Australia’s highest ranked female golfer with two LPGA victories to her name.

“I can’t wait to represent Australia in the Olympics and think it is the highest honour that you can ever have,” Lee said. “Just being among all the amazing athletes will be pretty cool and the atmosphere of the Olympics will be a special thing.”

Oh, also 20, has made a big impact on the LPGA Tour with a second and eighth-place finish in the past couple of months.

She and her family are thrilled that her fantastic season has earned her an Olympic spot.

“When my parents brought my big sister, my little brother and me to Australia when I was eight years old, I didn’t even play golf,” Oh said. “They could never in their wildest dreams have imagined one of us would represent Australia in the Olympic Games. It’s a dream come true for my whole family.”

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