A Big Stage for Golf Animates Female Players Around the Globe

It was no surprise that Inbee Park of South Korea, Lydia Ko of New Zealand and Shanshan Feng of China were the gold, silver and bronze medalists at the Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro this month. All three have been winners on the L.P.G.A. Tour.

But at the other end of the spectrum on the Olympic golf stage — designed as much for global inclusion as for distinguishing elite women’s champions — were winners of another sort: professional and some amateur players who represented countries better known for competitive badminton, diving, cricket and soccer.