Olympic golf 2016: Time and TV schedule for Round 1

Bubba Watson and Rickie Fowler are America’s best hope to tame the course at Reserva de Tijuca in Brazil. Will they be among the first golfers to medal at the Olympic Games since 1904?

Golf will return to Rio de Janeiro after a brief, 112-year break. First the first time in more than a century, world class pro golfers like Watson, Fowler, Henrik Stenson, and Sergio Garcia will compete for Olympic glory.

However, this year’s field won’t go far in determining the world’s best golfer. Only seven of the world’s top 15 players will be participating in the opening rounds on Thursday and Friday. Only four of the 60 competitors on the course -- Watson, Henrik Stenson, Martin Kaymer, and Padraig Harrington -- have won major titles before.

There are some big names missing and that’s been the dominant storyline in the months leading into the games. But since the Opening Ceremony, the players who are there have had a blast and embraced being Olympians. This may not be the most loaded field of the season but it’s one of the more interesting and curious to watch, at least at the start.

Watson and Fowler will be joined on this year’s U.S. team by Patrick Reed and Matt Kuchar. The pair were invited to the Games after Jordan Spieth and Dustin Johnson pulled out of the competition due to health and safety concerns. They aren’t the only high-profile duffers to stay home this summer. Australian Jason Day and Rory McIlroy also passed on the opportunity. Other top-15 players like Adam Scott, Louis Oosthuizen, and Branden Grace also declined their invitations.

As a result, the game’s top four players in the world rankings will all watch Thursday’s opening round from home. Here’s how you can, as well.

All times Eastern

Events: Men’s individual competition, 6:30 a.m.

TV: Golf Channel, 6:30 a.m. to approx. 3 p.m.

Online Streaming:

NBC Olympics simulcast stream at 6 a.m.

NBC Olympics featured holes stream, Nos. 1, 17-18