The sport's top four players have all pulled out of the tournament here. 

Between them, Australia's Jason Day, Americans Dustin Johnson and Jordan Spieth and Ireland's Rory McIlory have won six of the last 11 majors. 

All withdrew because of fears over the Zika virus. 

More than 20 players have withdrawn in total and the situation has prompted huge debate about whether golf deserves its Olympic spot having been restored to the programme for the first time since St. Louis 1904. 

"The bumps we have had have certainly taken away some of the gloss," International Golf Federation executive director Anthony Scanlon said. 

"We were very aware of the concerns. 

"In the end we weren't able to change the mind of some of the players. 

"And for us that was disappointing."

It is a sentiment echoed by the PGA Tour.

"Everybody has their own ways of managing their health," Ty Votaw, vice-president of the IGF and of the PGA Tour, said. 

"No question we gave them all the information they needed. 

"We are certainly disappointed in their decisions."

Scanlon, though, is optimistic the event will still be a success at Rio 2016, especially the women's tournament where the favourite is New Zealand's Lydia Ko, the 19-year-old two-time major winner. 

"We still have eight of the top 15 [world-ranked male players] and for the women we have the best field possible, given our qualification system," he said. 

"The excitement among all 120 athletes is palpable,"

The men's tournament, headed by Sweden's Open champion Henrik Stenson, is due to take place between August 11 and 14.

The women's is scheduled to start on August 17 and finish on August 20. 

"By the time we tee off it is day six and the Olympic fairy dust and the adrenaline that will come from watching other members of their team be successful will drive the players to see this is pretty special and unique," said Scanlon.