World Cup winning hero, Jason Day has called on Olympic Games officials to consider sticking with the ‘team’ element to competition when golf returns to the Olympics in 2016 at Rio de Janeiro.

Golf will be staged in both the 2016 and 2020 Summer Olympics for a first time since 1904 but as a ‘demonstration’ sport, and with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to vote in 2017 as to whether to reintroduce the sport full time from 2024.

This week’s $8m World Cup of Golf was an intended mirror of the likely format in 2016 but in stark contrast to every other year dating back to the inaugural World Cup in 1953 when players competed alongside their fellow countrymen in a fourball and foursomes format.

Jason Day, individual winner of the 2013 World Cup at Royal Melbourne Golf Club (Photo: Anthony Powter)

Instead, Day never once played alongside his victorious team mate, Adam Scott in the 72-hole stroke play event, and it was only through the luck of the draw that two of tthe 26 teams over the four days played alongside each other and that was the German and Brazil sides who found themselves paired over the final round at Royal Melbourne.

“My message to the Olympic Games organisers is that it would be good thing if team mates could play together in Rio and if Adam and I should get there to represent Australia,” said Day.

“If we play together we could help each other out as team mates as they do in other Olympic team sports.

“I know at present Adam doesn’t need that much support given the way he is playing but if we went to the Olympics and played alongside each other as team mates that is going to help.

“It’s just like when we were playing the Presidents Cup earlier this year it’s always good to have a team mate there as sometimes you may have a bad hole and get down and frustrated with yourself, so it’s always good to have a team mate there to help pick you up and keep moving you forward.

“The format was great this week and Adam and I can’t complain about the result, and it’s kind of hard not to like it when you win, but I think the Olympic organisers should pair all the teams together.

“And unlike this week, they should also make it a rule where we can help and support our team mate as that would go a long way.”

Day also commented it would add to the spectacle for those travelling to Brazil for the Olympics to be able to witness their countryman competing alongside each other rather than playing at opposite ends of the golf course.

“If the team aspect was put in place and every team played alongside each other that would draw bigger crowds to the golf,” he added.

And Scott supported Day calling of 2016 Olympic Golf organisers to bring the team element into competition and not allow the sport’s return to pan into yet another golf tournament.

“It’s hard enough not to like the format when Jason and I are sitting here as winners,” said Scott.

“But then I still would have like to spend the four days alongside Jason as a team playing fourball and that is my only comment against this week’s format.

“Of course, nothing against the guys I played alongside (smiling).”