"There's no doubt they are missing out, that's for sure. You just don't know where this game is going to lead and where they will be in four years' time or eight years' time or whether golf will be in the Olympics in eight years' time.
"I can't say it's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity because we're obviously in the 2020 Games, but it may be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for a lot of people.''
The run-up to golf's return to the Olympics was filled with negativity; no sport saw more withdrawals among its players.
The top four in the world -- Jason Day, Dustin Johnson, Jordan Spieth and Rory McIlroy -- all elected to skip the Games.