Golf in the Olympics? It's fine by Tiger ... and Zach, too

"Just got word golf will be an Olympic sport in 2016 in Rio de Janiero. I'll be 43. What's the record for oldest gold medal winner?" -- Stewart Cink on Twitter Friday morning.

I don't know the oldest, but do know Swedish marksman Oscar Swahn was 64 when he won the Olympic deer-shooting event in 1912. If you doubt that, click here.

No one that old is likely to win Olympic gold in golf during the 2016 Olympics. The sport and the event came together Friday, courtesy of the International Olympic Committee.

I was at the PGA Championship two months ago in Minnesota and asked Cedar Rapids' own Zach Johnson, 33, if he would try to make the U.S. Olympic team seven years from now.

At first he said, "I have no idea, I don't know." It was as if he had never considered it, which was possible since it only seemed to become a realistic notion during that tourney when it was announced golf and rugby sevens would be recommended as new Olympic sports.

But then Johnson thought about it for a moment and said "I'd say it would be pretty special to win a gold medal. Or any medal, for that matter. I think it's a great thing for golf , I think it's a great thing for sport, somehow incorporating this game into the Olympics . This game is getting more and more international. Globalizing it is pretty special."

If you saw the enthusiasm Johnson displayed at Thursday's first-day play at the Presidents Cup in San Francisco (in which he and Kenny Perry defeated Angel Cabrera and Camil0 Villegas in foursomes), you aren't surprised he'd be keen on Olympic golf.

When Johnson talks about how much he loves Presidents Cup and Ryder Cup experience, he's being true blue, as well as red and white. He has been on a losing U.S. Ryder Cup team and a winning Presidents Cup, and loved both experiences. Last year he missed out on the Ryder Cup and sat at home watching it on television, cheering on the Americans and eating his heart out because he wasn't on their team.

Johnson and Hunter Mahan take on Villegas and Robert Allenby today in Presidents Cup four-ball play, by the way. It starts at 1:43 p.m., and it's on The Golf Channel.

The Olympics have another endorser in Tiger Woods.

"I'd love to play for the rugby team, that would be great," Tiger Woods said at the PGA, getting a laugh at a press conference.

"No, I think it's great for golf . We're long overdue to have it in the Olympics . Our sport is a global sport."

Woods said he'd vie for Olympic gold: "If I'm not retired by then, yeah."

Woods will be 40 in the summer of 2016 . So will Johnson.

"Hopefully, I'm right in the prime of my career there," Johnson said.