2016 Olympic Games organisers have short-listed eight design teams to be chosen as the designer of the Rio de Janeiro golf course.

Those selected include some of the greats of the game headed by 18-time Major Champion Jack Nicklaus who is teaming with Annika Sorenstam.

Double British Open winner, Greg Norman and his design partner, Lorena Ochoa has also been selected while South African legend, Gary Player is another.

The proposed site for the 2016 Olympic Games host golf course.

Gil Hanse, designer of the stunning Castle Stuart course and host this year for the Barclays Scottish Open, and also the much acclaimed Craighead course at Crail and also in Scotland, is among those also short-listed.

Others include Tom Doak’s Renaissance Golf, Robert Trent Jones II, Hawtree Ltd. and Thomson-Perret Golf Course Architects.

The course will be built in the Barra da Tijuca neighborhood, which will hold most of the Olympic venues.

Applicants had to show prior course design experience, and have an office established in Rio.

The winner, who will be announced early next year, will be paid $300,000 for the design.

However the Olympic Games organizing committee indicated the golf course should leave a legacy to the city, and serve in youth sports education and events after the games.