Published on 12:01 AM, August 18, 2016

Women's golf underway after 116 yrs

Brazil's Miriam Suely Nagl competes in the Women's individual stroke play at the Olympic Golf course during the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. Photo: AFP

Miriam Nagl of Brazil became the first woman in 116 years to hit an Olympic golf shot as competition got under way at the Rio Games on Wednesday.

Women's golf is back for the first time since 1900, when American Margaret Abbott won the Paris Games' nine-hole event from a field of 10.

In Rio, a global lineup of 60 golfers is seeking gold.

In contrast to a men's tournament that concluded on Sunday and was skipped by the sport's biggest male stars, all of the world's eligible top women golfers are competing in Rio, led by world number one Lydia Ko of New Zealand.