The world's leading golfers have given an enthusiastic response to the chance of competing in the 2016 Olympics.

Golf is one of the favourites to be proposed by the International Olympic Committee's executive board when it meets in Berlin as one of two sports from seven candidates for addition to the 2016 Games.

The final vote for inclusion takes place at the IOC Congress in Copenhagen and Padraig Harrington said: "I'd love to be an Olympian. Doesn't that sound good? Imagine us being Olympic athletes. I think it would be fantastic for golf."

The Irish three-time major winner said the high value placed on sportsmanship in the game made golf a perfect candidate for inclusion in the Olympics.

"As a golfer, I would think we have all the credentials to be Olympians.

"It seems like it was always destined to be an Olympic sport. I'm sure there's a lot of athletes out there that would never put golf as a sport, but trying to explain that to somebody that doesn't play golf, they will never understand what goes into golf.

"Most golfers realise what goes into it and will see it as being a natural sport for the Olympics."