Olympics a priority for Spieth not Scott

Adam Scott may not care too much about golf's return to the Olympics but American world No.1 Jordan Spieth sure does.

Jordan Spieth on the 8th during a practice round

US superstar Jordan Spieth is treating golf's return to the Olympics like a major championship. (AAP)

Adam Scott's indifference towards golf's place at the Olympics is poles apart from the attitude of world No.1 Jordan Spieth.

While Scott says he's likely to skip next year's Games in Rio de Janeiro, Spieth couldn't be more excited.

The US superstar on Tuesday said he was treating golf's return to the Olympics after a 112-year absence like a major championship.

Barring an injury or an inexplicable fall from grace, Spieth will spearhead a four-strong American attack in the 60-man field in Brazil.

"Just competing in the Olympics; just walking the opening ceremony, staying in the village and doing whatever it is, meeting these incredible athletes from around the world, hopefully that's something I'll be able to experience next August," said the reigning Masters and US Open champion.

"Winning a gold medal has got to be up there now in my mind with winning a major championship.

"I've been asked the question: a green jacket or a gold medal, or a Wanamaker (Trophy) or an Open Championship or a gold medal? That's not fair.

"I think this year we're going to approach it as a fifth major and we're going to prepare like it is and I'm going to go down there and try and take care of business."

Like Scott, who is unimpressed by the Olympics' stock standard 72-hole single strokeplay format, Spieth wishes the Rio Games offered medals for team glory.

"It's not a team event in golf, I think unfortunately, but you go down there and approach it like a major," Spieth said.

"But it's going to be very difficult. You've got some great Aussies that will be down there, you've got Englishmen, you've got your own countrymen that you're trying to beat."

It's unlikely, though, that Spieth will need to beat Scott, by rankings his biggest threat this week at the Australian Open in Sydney.

Scott has a one-year-old daughter and Australia's former world No.1 last week said the Olympics was "not really a priority of my scheduling next year".

"I'll still base my schedule around the majors and if the Olympics fits in, then it does," he said at the Australian Masters.

"That's just where I see it and the point I'm at in my life and the other priorities, and the gap in the schedule there, some time off looks quite good actually.

"That's nothing to take away from the Olympics, but I'm just not sure that they have got it quite dialled in with the format and might have missed an opportunity there to do something pretty special for golf."


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Source: AAP



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