Sweden's Nordqvist, the defending ShopRite LPGA Classic champion, excited about Olympic challenge

GALLOWAY, N.J. - From June 3-5 on the Bay Course at Stockton Seaview Hotel and Golf Club, Sweden's Anna Nordqvist will try to do what's never been done in the three-decade history of the ShopRite LPGA Classic, which is successfully defend her title.

And in August at the Summer Olympic Games in Brazil, she'll try to do what no female golfer has even had the chance to do since 1900, which is win a medal.

Nordqvist, who turns 29 next month, is one of the two women who will be representing her homeland in Rio de Janeiro. The format is 72 holes of individual stroke play, with a three-hole playoff in the event of a tie. In other words, just like a regular tournament. But it'll be anything but regular. Sixty players will compete from each gender, as determined by the world rankings as of July 11. Anyone in the top 15 will automatically qualify, with a limit of four per nation. Beyond that, there's a maximum of two from nations that do not already have two in the top 15. At 19th, Nordqvist is the only Swede currently in the top 75.

For those keeping track, South Korea has eight in the top 14.

"We're just not a very big country," said Nordqvist, who closed with her second straight 2-under par 69 to beat Christel Boeljon by one shot at a year ago at Seaview, where she had three top-five finishes from 2011-14. "I was part of a generation where there were just a couple and there's been a couple years' gap. But we have some more coming. I think all the Asians have definitely raised the bar. They're so good early and there's so many. And there's a lot more knocking on the door waiting to get in. I think we have three or four girls from Sweden on tour now - it used to be 10 (including all-timer Annika Sorenstam) - and we only have 9 million people. In (South) Korea they have, I don't know how many, (maybe) 40 (million) to 50 million. It comes pretty natural to them. I think they're inspiring and motivating each other."

Nordqvist has played in multiple Solheim Cups representing Europe. But this is obviously different.

"I definitely feel like (I'm) going to be part of the Swedish team," she acknowledged. "It's going to be the first time, so we really don't know what to expect. (The Solheim Cup) is a huge honor, but I know from talking to other athletes and other Olympic athletes I was watching a lot growing up, the way they talk about the Olympics, the way they talk about the experience in the Olympic Village and the way they go about it, they work so hard and then they have (only) that one minute every four years. Like we still have our majors, we still have our other tournaments.

"The way they talk about it, I cannot imagine what it's going to feel like. So I'm sure I'm going to be able to look back on my career and say, 'I made it to the Olympics,' and talk about what a special feeling it was.

"I've always been a huge sports fan. I didn't start playing golf until I was 13, so I always did a lot of other sports. I never thought about competing in the Olympics until golf was (approved) a couple of years ago. But ever since then, it's been a big goal. I definitely admire the journey. I grew up a swimmer, so I would love to see the swimmers. I'm a big handball fan, (and) tennis. It depends on what time everybody is competing, because we're later on the schedule. I'm not sure how much time we're going to have watching other sports, but even watching the men (golfers) is going to be pretty sweet."

Even if Tiger isn't going to be there. The golfers will miss the Opening Ceremony because of scheduling conflicts, and some men have already said that for whatever reason, they're going to pass on the whole thing. It could be their loss. Nordqvist, who lives in Florida, is planning to move back to Sweden in about five years and starting a family. That means she could also get to go to Tokyo for the 2020 Olympiad.

So what would she rather add to her résumé, more major trophies or a gold?

"If I couldn't have both, right now I'd probably say the Olympics, because I'm going to have more chances to win a British Open than I ever would have to compete in the Olympics," said Nordqvist, whose first of her five LPGA victories was a major, the 2009 McDonald's LPGA Championship at Bulle Rock in Havre de Grace, Md. "You get asked that quesiton a lot. I wouldn't be picky. I think the majors are still going to weigh a little higher as far as the history. But this is such a rare opportunity. As an athlete, I think it would mean a lot.

"I think we'll all have a better idea when we get down there. It's pretty cool to see how the Olympics has changed golf. We're just not going to know until after this first Olympics what it really means for the sport. But I think it's going to be one of the highlights. I just think it makes golf a little more accepted. I'm just noticing all the media attention, and I have a lot of Swedish camera crews following me in my training. People back home are letting me know and I say, 'I didn't even know you were interested in golf.' I think that's great."

See you in Rio, where they'll be playing a course designed by Malvern-based Gil Hanse, who worked on the project with Hall of Famer Amy Alcott.

If nothing else, it'll be something different. And it seems to work for tennis. Ask the Williams sisters.

@mikekerndn