Golf is one step closer to returning to the lineup of Olympic sports for the 2016 Olympic Games.

The International Olympic Committee Executive Board recently recommended to add golf and rugby sevens to the 2016 Olympic Programme. The group's final vote on whether to add as many as two sports will take place October 9 at its annual session in Copenhagen, Denmark. While the membership of the IOC is not obliged to follow the Executive Board's recommendation, the board's decision is based on an extensive review process of seven candidate sports that included formal presentations, submitting a detailed questionnaire and responses to questions raised by the executive board and the IOC Programme Commission.

"We believe we have presented a compelling case as to why golf should be added and we look forward to the IOC's final vote in October," said Ty Votaw, executive director of the International Golf Federation Olympic Golf Committee, which has been coordinating golf's bid for the Olympics. Golf was last part of the Olympic Games in 1904, when the U.S. and Canada were the only competing nations.

Meanwhile, Tiger Woods, arguably golf's most recognized player, has committed to playing in the Olympic Games if golf is admitted as a sport.