Olympics golf controversy

Reigning British Open champion Phil Mickelson is currently ineligible for the 2016 Olympic Games despite being the world's 13th-ranked golfer.

Reigning British Open champion Phil Mickelson

Reigning British Open champion Phil Mickelson is currently ineligible for the 2016 Olympic Games. (AAP)

He's the reigning British Open champion, a five-times major winner and world No.13 - but Phil Mickelson still doesn't qualify for the 2016 Olympic golf tournament.

Nor does reigning US PGA champion Jason Dufner or recent world No.1s Lee Westwood and Luke Donald, or four-times major winner Ernie Els make the cut for Rio de Janiero in two years.

The controversial criteria for entry to the 2016 Games announced on Tuesday is sure to reignite debate over golf's return to the Olympics for the first time since 1904 in St Louis.

International Golf Federation officials used the eve of the Open at Royal Liverpool to confirm the complex qualification system to be be used for Rio.

And, based on current world rankings, two reigning major champions would miss out.

In both the men's and women's events, 60 players will compete in a 72-hole stroke play format for the gold, silver and bronze medals.

Although players ranked inside the top 15 on July 11, 2016 will be eligible, a maximum of four players per country will gain entry.

As such, Mickelson is presently not eligible despite being ranked inside the top 15.

Mickelson is currently the American No.6 behind Masters champion Bubba Watson (4), Matt Kuchar (5), Tiger Woods (7), Jordan Spieth (10) and Jim Furyk (11).

Under the same criteria, Dufner, ranked 21st, also wouldn't qualify based on the current world order.

The balance of the field - beyond the eligible players in the top 15 - will be selected in order from 16th place onwards in the women's and men's rankings as of July 11, 2016.

Unless a country provides more representatives via the top 15, nations will be limited to a maximum of two players each in the men's and women's fields.

There is a provision, though, that guarantees the host nation of Brazil at least one player in the men's and women's events regardless of their rankings.

The criteria opens the door for lowly-ranked golfers seizing the gold medals with a good four days - and also makes it much easier for those class players that do qualify to win in a field lacking depth.

Brazil, for example, has only four men's players ranked inside the top 1000, headed by world No.281 Adilson Da Silva.

Another provision has been included that each of the five continents of the Olympic movement - Africa, Americas, Asia, Europe and Oceania - will also be guaranteed at least one athlete in each of the men's and women's events regardless of their ranking.

On current rankings, world No.1 Adam Scott and world No.6 Jason Day would be the only Australian men to qualify for the 2016 Olympics.

Seven-times major winner Karrie Webb, the world No.7, and Minjie Lee, ranked 72nd, would be Australia's only representatives in the women's tournament as of Tuesday.

Golf and rugby earned inclusion after beating baseball, softball, squash, karate and roller sports in a vote in 2009.

SWING AND A MISS

NOTABLE NON-QIALIFIERS FOR THE 2016 OLYMPIC GOLF TOURNAMENT BASED ON CURRENT WORLD RANKINGS (PREFIX DENOTES RANKING)

11.Jim Furyk - former US Open champion and American No.5

13.Phil Mickelson (USA) - five-times major winner and reigning British Open champion

14.Zac Johnson (USA) - former Masters champion

20.Luke Donald (ENG) - former world No.1

21.Jason Dufner (USA) - reigning US PGA champion

27.Ian Poulter (ENG) - English No.3

32.Lee Westwood (ENG) - English No.4 and former world No.1

58.Ernie Els (RSA) - four-times major winner and former world No.1


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