Tiger Woods eyes up Tokyo 2020 Olympics

Golf has evolved as a sport since it first began, to a point now where it is once again a part of the Olympic Games, after a 112 year absence. Tiger Woods is one of the leading factors as to why golf has grown so much and now, the 15-time major champion is eyeing up a place at the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.

In 2016, a host of talented golfers were lined up to take part in the Olympics in Rio, but due to the break out of the zika virus and some scheduling issues, a large part of that field dropped out.

Justin Rose took on Henrik Stenson in the final day of the 2016 Olympics and it was the Englishman who came out on top to take home the gold medal, something he believes is the biggest highlight of his career.

RELATED: Justin Rose: Olympic Gold "Biggest gift of my career."

Rose has said that he would love to represent his country once again next year in Tokyo, while Paul Casey is also chasing his dream of being a part of the Olympic Games.

Woods, who has never played in the Olympics before, believes that next year in Tokyo may be his last chance of representing the USA in the prestigious competition.

"I don't see myself having too many opportunities other than next year," said Woods.

"Four years from now, at the next Olympic Games, I'll be 48 years old."

"To be one of the top Americans at that age is going to be tough," he added.

The top 15 players in the world rankings qualify for the Olympics, but there is a maximum of four players per country.

Woods, who is currently ranked 9th in the world, sits behind fellow Americans Brooks Koepka, Dustin Johnson, Justin Thomas, Patrick Cantlay and Bryson DeChambeau and would therefore not qualify if four players above him in the rankings wanted to play.

"I went to my first Olympic Games when it was in Los Angeles (in 1984) so now to have the opportunity to be a part of the Olympics, because golf in my lifetime wasn't a part of the Olympics, is an important aspect for us and the growth of the game," Woods told Reuters.

"The game has become so global, and so reaching, that I think the Olympic Games is a great extension of that and I'd like to be a part of it."