Golf returns to Olympics after 112 years

Golf will make its long-awaited return to the Olympics on Thursday, as the first round of the men's competition gets underway with two South Koreans in the field.

Golf was last contested at the Olympics in 1904.

The men's competition has lost much of its luster with the absence of the world's top four players -- Jason Day, Dustin Johnson, Jordan Spieth and Rory McIlroy. 

South Korea will be represented by two youngsters: the 24-year-old An Byeong-hun, the 2015 European Tour Rookie of the Year, and the 20-year-old Wang Jeung-hun, who has won twice on the European Tour this year.

They will be coached by Choi Kyoung-ju -- better known by his initial, K.J. -- who has won eight times on the PGA Tour.

In fencing, South Korea will be chasing its second straight medal in the women's epee team event. In London, Shin A-lam was a victim of a timekeeping error in the individual event that cost her a spot in the final, but she bounced back to lead the team to a silver medal.

Shin and Choi In-jeong are returnees from that 2012 team, joined by Kang Young-mi. (Yonhap)