The Scot would be approching his mid-50s by the time of the Games but said that it would be his aim to compete.

 

He told insidethethegames: "There is nothing to stop me competing in the Olympic Games at 53.

 

"If I'm in the top six in the world my God I'll be there wherever the city may be and I think I speak for the top 60 men.

 

"We are very much hoping and wanting to compete in an Olympic Games.

 

"One hundred per cent of us will be travelling to compete."

 

Montgomerie has been ranked among the world's top golfers for nearly two decades now, having won a record eight Order of Merit titles, including a streak of seven consecutively from 1993 to 1999, and 31 European tour victories, placing him third on the all-time list.

 

But he has never won one of the four major tournaments, finishing second in the US Open on three occasions and second once in the British Open, the PGA Championships, and he said a gold medal would more than compenstate.

 

Montgomerie siad: "It would make up for that and the rest.

 

"To be the first gold medal winner for 112 years would be a massive achievement for whoever who wins."

 

Golf last appeared in the Olympics at St Louis when the individual gold medal was won by  Canada's George Lyon and the United States collected the team gold medal.

 

Montgomerie was part of a high-level delegation here today that presented golf's case for being put back on the programme, along with six other sports who are making presentations to the International Olympic Committee's ruling Executive Board.

 

He said: "It has been said that we have our major competitions and we feel that is the top of golf.

 

"But it's certainly not the top of sport, which is why we are here, to bring golf to the top of the sport.

 

"To bring golf to the pinnacle of sport and that is what the Olympic Games means."

 

Montgomerie also refuted allegations that winning an Olympic gold medal would never mean as much to the top players as claiming a major, insisting that it would actually be a greater prize because it would be rarer.

 

He said: "For every one chance we have the possibility of winning an Olympic gold medal we have 16 majors to compete for."