Woods leads top golfers in support of 2016 bid

World number one Tiger Woods is one of 18 of the world's leading golfers to back the International Golf Federation's (IGF) bid to have the sport included in the 2016 Olympic Games.

Woods has written personally and sent a 32-page brochure outlining the bid to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) member for the United States.

Ireland's Padraic Harrington, winner of two majors last year, Fiji's Vijay Singh, Europe's 2010 Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie and Spain's Sergio Garcia, have also written to their respective IOC members to try and restore golf to the Olympic fold for the first time for more than 100 years.

"As we have consistently stated from the outset of the bid process, it is imperative that the best players in the world support golf's Olympic effort," Peter Dawson, chief executive of The R&A and joint secretary of the IGF, said.

Dawson said in a statement this would give golf "the best chance of being selected by the IOC to participate in the 2016 Olympic Games."

The IGF's Olympic committee, which represents golf's main organisations and tours, hopes to claim one of two spots for new sports available at the 2016 Games after golf missed out on the 2012 Games.

Dawson said last year that a strokeplay competition would be the proposed format for golf at the Games, with men and women taking part.

The last time Olympic medals were up for grabs in the sport was at the 1904 Games in St Louis.