With its top players deciding to forgo the Rio de Janeiro Olympics, Australia announced its men's golf team of Scott Hend and Marcus Fraser on Wednesday. The country's most successful women's player, Karrie Webb, was missing the games for a different reason -- she failed to qualify.
Jason Day and Marc Leishman (concerns over Zika virus) and Adam Scott (scheduling issue) said they wouldn't play in Rio, leaving the 81st-ranked Hend and No. 86 Fraser to play in golf's s return to the Olympics after 112 years.
Minjee Lee (No. 14) and Su Oh (No. 41) will play on the women's team for Australia, leaving Webb, a seven-time LPGA major winner and World Golf Hall of Fame member, on the sidelines after her ranking of 58 failed to see her qualify.
Those selected jumped at the opportunity provided to become their country's first golfing Olympians.
"To play in the Olympics is a dream come true," said Fraser. "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 of the 72-hole stroke play event, is embracing the Olympics as a new experience in his long career.
"I'll go to Brazil and represent Australia the best way that I can," said Hend. "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."
Lee, 20, is the highest ranked of the Australians at world No.14, having already won two LPGA Tour titles inside her first two seasons as a pro.
"I can't wait to represent Australia in the Olympics and think it is the highest honor 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, edged out golf great Webb for the second Australian women's team berth on ranking, after claiming second and eighth placings on the LPGA Tour in the past couple of months.
"When my parents brought my big sister, my little brother and me to Australia when I was 8 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."
Lee and Oh were part of the Australian team that won the world amateur championship in 2014.
The Olympic women's golf tournament starts on Aug. 17, while the men's tourney begins Aug. 11.
Information from the Associated Press and Australian Associated Press was used in this report.
