Rio Games as big as football World Cup for Grillo

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina: For Argentina’s Emiliano Grillo, the prospect of representing his country at the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro is the closest thing he can imagine to being a football player at a World Cup.

Golf is set to return to the Olympics after an absence of more than a century and Grillo is itching to be one of the competitors vying for glory in global sport’s showpiece where he will be watched and supported by scores of family and friends.

“It’s pretty nice,” Grillo, 23, told Reuters with a broad smile when asked about golf being played at the August 5-21 Rio Games. “It’s a big, big thing. It’s like a World Cup of football. It will be that big and getting a medal for our country is the biggest thing we can do. And it’s in Brazil, right next to my home,” he grinned.

Argentina, who have twice won football World Cup, were beaten 1-0 by Germany in the final of the 2014 edition.

“I know it will be pretty hard, but I’m looking forward to it,” Grillo said of his quest for Olympic gold. “I am getting ready for Rio and I am practicing hard for it,” he added.

Grillo will certainly be a player to watch in Rio after winning his first PGA Tour title at the season-opening Frys.com Open in October.