Woods has written personally and sent a 32-page brochure outlining the bid to the Anita DeFrantz and Jim Easton, the American members of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

 

Colin Montgomerie, Europe's 2010 Ryder Cup captain, has meanwhile written to the Princess Royal, Sir Craig Reedie and Sir Philip Craven, the Britons who are members of the IOC, backing the bid.

  

Ireland's Padraic Harrington, winner of two majors last year, Fiji's Vijay Singh, and Spain's Sergio Garcia, have also written to their respective IOC members, Pat Hickey and Robin Mitchell, to try and restore golf to the Olympic fold for the first time for 112 years.

 

It last appeared in the Olympic at St. Louis in 1904, its only appearance in the Games when  the winner of the individual title was Canada's George Lyon and the United States collected the team gold medal.

 

Peter Dawson, the chief exeutive of the Royal & Ancient and joint secretary of the IGF, said: "As we have consistently stated from the outset of the bid process, it is imperative that the best players in the world support golf's Olympic effort."

 

Dawson said this would give golf "the best chance of being selected by the IOC to participate in the 2016 Olympic Games."

 

Phil Mickelson, the winner of three Majors, claimed last year that if golf were included in the Olympics it would be the sport's biggest and most prestigious tournament to win.

 

His claim was backed by Canada's Mike Weir, a former winner of the Masters.

 

Jack Nicklaus, winner of a record 18 Major titles, and Sweden's Annika Sorenstam, winner of 10 major titles on the women's tour, are global ambassadors for the bid.

 

But former US Open winner Geoff Ogilvy claimed that golf should not be in the Olympics.

 

The IGF's Olympic committee, which represents golf's main organisations and tours, hopes to claim one of two spots for new sports available at the 2016 Games after golf missed out on the 2012 London Games.

 

Dawson said last year that a strokeplay competition would be the proposed format for golf at the Games, with men and women taking part.

 

Golf faces competition from baseball, karate, roller sports, rugby sevens, softball and squash with the IOC's final vote taking place in October at its Session in Copenhagen when the host city will also be chosen. Chicago, Madrid, Rio de Janeiro and Tokyo are the contenders.

 

But the IOC's ruling Executive Committee will recommend two sports that should be included in 2016 at its meeting in Berlin on August 13.