World No.1 Jordan Spieth said he will treat golf's re-entry into the Olympic Games next year like a "fifth major" as question marks remain about whether many other international stars will commit to Rio.
Spieth, who ramped up preparations for his Australian Open defence with a practice round of nine holes on Tuesday, left no one uncertain about the emphasis he is placing on golf ending its 112-year absence from the summer Games.
The controversial Rio course was handed over to Olympic Games organisers on Sunday after squabbling over environmental issues and land ownership, paving the way for golf to again be included on sport's biggest stage.
"Winning a gold medal has got to be up there now in my mind with a major championship," said Spieth, the two-time major winner. "I've been asked the question, green jacket, gold medal or Open championship? That's not fair.
"I think this year we're going to approach it as a fifth major and we're going to prepare like it is. It's not a team event in golf, I think unfortunately - but you go down there and approach it like a major."
The Olympic men's field will likely be forced to rush to Rio to play in the tournament a week after the US PGA, the last major of the year, is played at New Jersey's Baltusrol in mid-August next year.
The top 15 ranked players in the world will gain automatic entry into the tournament, but no country can have more than four representatives.
Once the net is cast wider than the top 15, no country can have more than two players, meaning only Jason Day and Adam Scott would be Australia's projected representatives if the tournament was held today.
But there will be plenty of rankings upheaval between now and then, not least of all when Spieth embarks on defending his US Masters and US Open crowns in the new year.
And despite a head-spinning season, the 22-year-old is convinced there are further improvements to be made before starting his Stonehaven Cup defence at the Australian Golf Club on Thursday.
"You have to approach believing that you can actually improve," he said. "I believe that my prime is ahead of me - I have to believe that - but I do.
"[The new goals] will certainly include trying to have multiple wins on tour and really contend and win at least a major championship.
"Rory [McIlroy] is saying it's an off year if you're not at least getting close or winning a major championship. I don't see why I wouldn't think the same way right now."
American-based Australian brothers Matt and Brett Jones, the former ranked no.81 in the world and the latter making his first Australian Open appearance, shadowed Spieth on Tuesday in front of a sprinkling of fans.
But it is the presence of former US Masters champion Adam Scott, who suffered a third-round meltdown in last week's Australian Masters, which has Spieth on red alert.
"He comes into a place he's obviously comfortable with, he's played well, he's had good rounds and he's fresh and he's also probably got a bit of a chip on his shoulder too [from] last week, especially being back home and everyone saying you haven't won since the Colonial in 2014," Spieth said.
