Harrington: Golfers will regret skipping Rio 2016

Irish golfer Padraig Harrington is joining Rickie Fowler in his enthusiasm for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio.

Harrington speculated that those who decided to skip the games, including the top four golfers in the world (Jason Day, Dustin Johnson, Jordan Spieth, and Rory McIlroy), will regret the decision when it's all said and done.

"The players who are here couldn't be more positive and couldn't be enjoying it more,'' Harrington said Wednesday, according to Bob Harig of ESPN. "I sense, as well, the players at home are pretty quiet on social media. You sense that maybe some of them would like to be here. Certainly I think some of them would definitely like to be here and they are missing out.

"There's no doubt they are missing out, that's for sure. You just don't know where this game is going to lead and where they will be in four years' time or eight years' time or whether golf will be in the Olympics in eight years' time."

Harrington is only at the games because McIlroy, Shane Lowry, and Graeme McDowell elected not to represent Ireland there. The 45-year-old jumped at the chance to go to an Olympics, citing the likelihood that it would be his only chance.

"I can't say it's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity because we're obviously in the 2020 Games, but it may be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for a lot of people," Harrington warned.

Harrington helped pitch golf to the International Olympic Committee in 2009, when he was ranked No. 7 in the world. Seven years later, he's ranked 128th.

"It would be interesting about the athletes who turned down coming here this time," Harrington said. "Some of them might not get the opportunity again. You'd be surprised how it does change. For me, clearly this is the opportunity of a lifetime. I feel good about my golf and where I'm at with my golf. Logically, will I get another chance in 2020?"