GOLF: Australians Minjee Lee and Su Oh will look to use their experience watching compatriot Marcus Fraser when they tee off at the Olympic Golf Course in the women’s stroke play competition starting tomorrow (Wednesday Rio time).
Lee and Oh, both 20, were part of Fraser’s extended entourage on the final holes on both the Saturday and Sunday and were taken aback by the level of support from the watching public as the player’s completed their rounds.
“I watched Marcus on the last few holes on Saturday and Sunday and got to stand on the inside of the rope – watching the likes of Justin Rose and Henrik Stenson play with Marcus was a great experience,” said Western Australian Lee.
“The intensity and atmosphere was really cool. I think people didn’t know what to expect from golf in the Olympics but last weekend showed what golf can bring to the Games.”
Oh added that the uncertainty of the world rankings meant she couldn’t dare to dream too soon, but that the Olympics have always been on her radar.
“I always wanted to be here but it always seemed so far away. I didn’t think I’d be able to make it. You just can’t tell how the world rankings will work out.
“My goal was to secure a card for the 2017 on the LPGA and by doing that I was getting really close and then as it got closer the Olympics was something I really wanted to be a part of. “
Hopefully the guys that missed out here will want to play in Tokyo. The men’s tournament ended up being such a great event. I didn’t know what to expect before, but staying in the village and mixing with other athletes has been a really cool experience.”
Lee agrees that being part of the Olympic movement has been a unique experience.
“It’s been pretty cool. I got to stay in the Olympic Village for a few days before going to the golf house. Being around the athletes, as part of a wider team, feels really different. Playing at the Olympics is different.
“You are representing your country – it’s the highest honour you can have. All the best athletes are here but majors are different. Here if you medal then your whole country knows about it.”
Lee is currently ranked 17th in the world with Oh 27 places back in 44th and are considered an outside chance to make the podium come the end of the fourth round on Saturday afternoon.
Both players have risen through the amateur ranks and have developed a healthy rivalry since turning professional.
Oh recalls: “We crossed first crossed paths at around 16-ish, we were in the Golf Australia team together. So we’ve played against each other a lot but we’ve also played a lot of team events together and we won the World Amateurs together which was really nice [in 2014].
“We played so much together growing up – it was always Minjee and I. We had one tournament in Perth where we both pushed each other. One of us where one of us shot 22 under and the other 21 under. The next player was like, 8 under. “Just things like that, we’ve played a lot of golf together – she’s been great and hopefully I’ve been good for Minjee.”
Oh, who’s sister Heejin persuaded her boss back home in Australia to allow her time off to watch Su in action in Rio, likes the look of the course she will tackle, likening it to “the sand-belts of Melbourne.”
“It looks quite familiar. You really have to plot your way around. It looks like a wide fairway and big greens but if you’re on the wrong side you can’t get to the hole.
“I’ve played this kind of course plenty of times before and Mike Clayton is on my bag this week. He’s a golf course architect so he would know where I need to go – except I have to hit it there!”
Both players also paid tribute to Australian golfing legend Carrie Webb, who despite missing out on selection for Rio 2016 herself, has been supportive.
“As soon as the team was announced I received a message saying that she was really happy for me,” said Oh.
“She’s obviously disappointed she couldn’t be here, but maybe she could have been here too, but I guess that’s where the rules are. She sent me a really nice e-mail saying she was really happy and to go and do my country proud.
“She is a huge supporter of women’s golf. She likes a few sports but she has a special love for women’s golf in Australia. Her support has been great and I want to do the best for both of us.”
And on the duo’s hopes for the four round competition? “I would say hopefully good. But in golf you never tempt fate,” said Oh.
And Lee? “By the end of the year I want to win another tournament.
“Any good result gives you confidence so if I was fortunate enough to win here then I’m sure it’d help me for the rest of 2016.”
Tee-off times: 10:14am Su Oh (AUS), Kara Spilkova (CZE), Chloe Leurquin (BEL) 10:36am Minjee Lee (AUS), Hee Young Yang (KOR), Sandra Gal (GER)
Steve Stammers
olympics.com.au
