Kiwi golfers in Olympic shootout

New Zealand golfer Ryan Fox is pressing his case for an Olympic place. Photo / Mike Scott

Kiwi golfers Ryan Fox and Michael Hendry are in the final sprint of their duel to join Danny Lee at the Olympics.

Fox has a slender lead, sitting 190 in the world rankings ahead of Hendry at 207, and also plays his final ranking event IN Slovakia after his rival finishes his tournament in Japan.

"It really depends on how Mike goes this week, there are a few more ranking points in Japan than on the Challenge tour and if he wins and he's been playing well for a month, then I think I am in a little bit of trouble for the Olympics," Fox told Radio Sport.

"If I win and Mike doesn't obviously I will cement my place to go. I have luxury if I make the cut of knowing what I have to do."

Once the decision is made between Fox and Hendry, that player will have to undergo a series of medicals and need his selection to be ratified by New Zealand Olympic officials.

If Fox gets the nod he said he will travel to London to get the necessary vaccination shots, testing and details for playing in Rio..

Lee and world No 1 Lydia Ko will headline New Zealand's assault on golfing medals at the Olympics.

Meanwhile Fox says his form and confidence are growing after finishing runner-up in Scotland a fortnight ago when his game started to come together.

He played a practice round today on the Jack Nicklaus designed-course in Slovakia which was a slightly easier version of another Nicklaus layout at Kinloch. It was slightly shorter than Kinloch but the greens were equally demanding.

"There are lots of bowls on the greens and different levels. If you don't hit it to the right level it can be very difficult.

"Probably the most interesting thing about the golf course is it has a par six. It is 720m off the back tees."