Golf’s Olympic contestants will get more than they bargain in meeting the ‘locals’ next Thursday and the start to the Men’s Olympic Games Golf event in Rio de Janeiro.
Since being opened for play just a handful of months ago the Gil Hanse designed course has become home to boa constrictors, monkeys, sloths, an abundance of bird life along with crocodile-like creatures.
And in the quest for a medal the likes of Padraig Harrington, Rickie Fowler, Henrik Stenson and Bubba Watson could come face with a capybara which is the world’s largest rodent growing to a height of around a metre and can weigh as much as a human.
“The grass on the golf course has become very popular with the capybaras who come out to feed in the evening,” said Mark Johnson, Director of International Agronomy for the PGA Tour that is overseeing golf’s return to the Olympics.
What the Olympic golf stars could be staring at later next week on the Gil Hanse designed course in Rio – a capybaras and the world’s largest rodent.
“There’s three-toed sloths, plenty of monkeys, boa constrictors and caimans, which are a semiaquatic reptile similar to a crocodile but with a heavily armoured belly that are very common in the South America.
“But then the crocodiles should be no problem as they are only small and frequent the water hazards on the second, third, fifth and ninth holes.”
Though there is also a local rule already in place on the Rio course should Harrington’s or Seamus Power’s ball come to rest on any portion of ground that could be the nest for a corujas, a ground-nesting owl, like to burrow holes about eight inches in diameter.
A coruja owl
“The players shouldn’t be too upset as they’ll get a free drop and be allowed to clean and place,” added Johnson.
The men kick off competition Thursday, August 11, with the women following the next week, Thursday, August 17.
And Harrington looks like to have earned himself two extra days of much-needed competition at the Travelers Championship thanks to two birdies over his closing four holes in a round of 69 for a one under par tally after two days of the $US 6.6m event at TPC River Highlands in Hartford, Connecticut.
Harrington had ended day one bogey, bogey and birdie in a level par 70 and then went into day two staring with two birdies but also the same number of bogeys after just five holes.
However, the Dubliner, who needs to play all four rounds to boost his chance of picking up four places and move into the top-125 on the FedEx Cup points table, steadied and while he did bogey his 12th his finish should see him play all four rounds.
In contrast, Shane Lowry looks likely to miss the cut with scores of 69 and 71 to be at one over par and not helped in dropping three shots in two holes at 14 and 15.
Meantime –
Belfast’s Michael Hoey despite winning his morning match was bundled out in the afternoon 4 & 3 by England’s James Morrison in the Aberdeen Asset Management Paul Lawrie Match-Play Championship at Archerfield.
Also out is top-seed Chris Wood who now could be in danger of losing his place in the European Ryder Cup team.
Wood is due to be married on August 20th but that now could be on hold and with Wood considering entering the Czech Masters to assure his place in Darren Clarke’s team.
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