Former world number one Greg Norman has echoed PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem's call for golf to become an Olympic sport.
Finchem earlier this month stated his intention to get golf back on the schedule for the 2016 Games.
The last time golf was played at the Olympics was in 1904 and three years ago the International Olympic Committee rejected proposals for the sport to return at London 2012.
But Norman, playing in only his third European Tour event of the season at this week's BMW Asian Open, stressed the sport's global popularity makes it essential it is part of future Olympics.
"The game of golf is truly played on a global basis," he said. "It is played by all races and it is played on every continent.
"If you think about male and female professionals as well as the amateurs, the game of golf canvasses a lot of people.
"And when you think about what the game of golf has done from an economics point of view, you would think the logical choice would be for it to be in the Olympics.
"I can totally understand the IOC point of view that, if golf comes in, there is a cost factor. If it comes in then something else has to be dropped but I have seen what golf has done on a global basis and I would like to see it included.
"I had hoped to have played in Olympics myself and though that is a long time past me, hopefully other golf players will have the chance to experience it."
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