Even though there is technically no team component to the Olympic golf competition, don't tell that to Emiliano Grillo, who along with Fabian Gomez, make up the Argentine golf delegation.
"I play for myself every single week," said the 23-year-old Grillo, who is tied for 14th in the men's Olympic Golf Tournament. "Here, I'm playing for my province Chaco, for Argentina, for 40 million people.
"... There is team spirit with Gomez. We feel we are in this one together, for our province and country."
Gomez, who has won each of the past two seasons on the PGA Tour, owns a share of sixth place at the halfway mark of the men's Olympic Golf Tournament.
Argentina is one of just three countries -- Belgium and Sweden are the other two -- with two golfers inside the top 14 through 36 holes. Both Grillo, who is ranked 39th in the world, and Gomez, who is 79th, opened with 1-under-par rounds of 70 at the Olympic Golf Course on Thursday, but it was Gomez who went lower in Round 2 with a 67 compared to Grillo's 69. Gomez attributed that to his compatriot having to play most of his second round in more difficult weather conditions.
"A medal? Yes, that is what I came here for," said Gomez, who currently sits 3 shots outside a spot on the medal podium. "Any color ... I know everyone aims at gold, but I want to get any of the three."
Grillo won the Frys.com Open in his first start as a PGA Tour member earlier this season. He knows those ahead of him on the leaderboard won't do him any favors, but he also understands it's no certainty that the leaders will continue their form for the final two rounds.
"The leaders have been playing well, agreed," he said. "But they (have to) keep doing it like that for two more days."
So far in these Summer Olympics, Argentina has just one medal -- a gold -- from Paula Pareto in the women's 48kg judo competition. Could Grillo and Gomez be battling it out for another spot on the podium Sunday for themselves and their country?
If the cards -- and putts -- fall their way, they just might each walk away with a medal.
