Team GB selects four golfers for Rio 2016
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The British Olympic Association have today named the four golfers who will represent Team GB at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.
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Justin Rose and Danny Willett will compete in the menÛªs 72-hole stroke play event from August 11-14, while Catriona Matthew and Charley Hull, will contest the medals in the womenÛªs competition from August 17-20.
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Rose turned professional in 1998 following a tied fourth place finish at that yearÛªs Open Championship at Royal Birkdale.
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A 15-time winner across the PGA and European Tours, Rose claimed US Open victory at Merion Golf Club in 2013 and played significant roles in EuropeÛªs 2012 and 2014 Ryder Cup wins.
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Willett turned pro in 2008 and secured his maiden Major championship victory in memorable style earlier this season following a final round 67 at The Masters in April.
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Solheim Cup stalwart Matthew has four LPGA Tour victories to her name, as well as six wins on the Ladies European Tour (LET). In 2009, the 46-year-old won both the WomenÛªs British Open and the LET Player of the Year award.
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At 20, Hull will be the youngest member of Team GBÛªs golf squad and has been professional for three years with one European Tour victory to her name.
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In 2013, Hull won the LET Rookie of the Year award and a year later picked up the TourÛªs Order of Merit.
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Rio 2016 will be the third time golf has appeared at the Olympic Games and is returning to the programme for the first time since St Louis 1904.
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Team GB have won two Olympic medals in golf following Walter Rutherford and David RobertsonÛªs silver and bronze successes at Paris in 1900.
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The selected athletes are:
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Charley Hull, 20, hometown Kettering
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Catriona Matthew, 46, Edinburgh
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Justin Rose, 35, London
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Danny Willett, 28, Sheffield
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Team GBÛªs Chef de Mission, Mark England, said: ÛÏItÛªs brilliant to be able to bring new faces into Team GB in a sport that has not appeared at the Games for over a century.
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ÛÏBritain has a fantastic tradition in the sport and I know the team are excited to be part of a new experience for this generation of golfers. In Justin, Danny, Catriona and Charley we also have a team capable of doing great things in Rio next month.Û
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Team GBÛªs golf team leader, Jamie Spence said: “It is an honour and a privilege to be going as Golf Team Leader to Rio as part of Team GB.
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ÛÏTo be taking three Major Champions as well as one of the up and coming stars of ladies golf to Brazil, certainly shows the strength of our team. We are all proud to represent golf and Team GB at the 31st Olympiad.”
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Danny Willett said: ÛÏIt will be a huge honour to represent Team GB at the Olympics. IÛªm very proud but itÛªs also going to be great fun. ItÛªs the first time golf has been in since 1904 and it will be such a different experience.
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ÛÏIt comes at a busy point in our year so IÛªm hoping to be playing well going into it. IÛªll certainly prepare as well as I possibly can and weÛªll go from there. IÛªve seen pictures of the course and itÛªs looking good. IÛªm really looking forward to it.Û
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Charley Hull said: ÛÏI canÛªt wait to represent Team GB in Brazil. It is such an honour to be selected and I am looking forward to every moment of the experience. I am so excited to be part of the team and stay in the village and meet so many of the athletes I admire. I think it will be the most amazing week and I will be so proud to be able to call myself an Olympian.Û
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Catriona Matthew said: ÛÏIÛªm delighted to have made the GB Olympic team and cannot wait to go to Rio. Ever since golf made it into the Olympics itÛªs been an aim of mine to make the team, and IÛªm both happy and relieved that IÛªve been included. IÛªve heard that the course is fantastic and so IÛªm excited to get down there and represent my country alongside Charley, Danny and Justin.Û