Dawson hoping to tee off at 2016 Games

The Royal and Ancient's chief executive, Peter Dawson, believes golf's bid to be included in the 2016 Olympics will be "warmly welcomed" by the International Olympic Committee.

Golf featured in 1900 and 1904, but failed in its bid to be included in the 2012 London Games. The International Golf Federation has now formed an Olympic committee, to be headed by the PGA Tour official Ty Votaw, to press for the sport's inclusion.

Dawson feels important lessons have been learnt from the previous failed bid, with the IGF representing the R&A, the USGA, LPGA, PGA Tour, European Tour, Augusta National and the PGA of America. "I think golf was not really speaking with one voice at the time and we were nowhere near as advanced as we are now with our anti-doping policies and so on," Dawson said yesterday. "We visited the IOC in Lausanne and it was made clear that a bid from golf would be warmly welcomed by the IOC, so I think we're in much better shape.

"There are two vacancies projected in the Olympics in 2016, but we have six sports up against us – rugby sevens, squash, karate, roller sports, softball and baseball. There is stiff competition, but we feel we're putting together the right organisation to get the job done."