Gary Player: Pro golfers 'should be kicked out of the Olympics'

For the first time in 112 years, golf will be played at the Olympics, but due to concerns surrounding the Zika virus in Rio, many of the world's top golfers have opted to pull out.

Gary Player, who cemented his legacy in the sport with nine Majors in the PGA - along with a handful more on the Senior's Tour - would've given anything to play in the Olympics.

"(With) my 18 Majors and 165 tournaments, (if I could have) had an Olympic Gold Medal amongst them, it would have been the joy of my life. I would have given anything. I would have taken a rowing boat and rowed over to play in the Olympics. And this excuse about Zika is feeble You have Zika in America in some states right now. You've got more of a chance of being killed by a gun or a motor car in America than getting Zika," Player told Julia Limitone of FOXBusiness.

Given how long it took to bring golf back to the Olympics, and the number of pros denying the opportunity, Player - who will captain South Africa's team in Rio - thinks the chance should be given to amateurs.

"We all worked hard to get golf in the Olympics. I think professional golf should be kicked out of the Olympics ... They should replace us with amateurs who would hold it at high esteem to represent this country with great joy," Player said.

"The Black Knight" has spoken.