Let The 2016 Olympic (Golf) Games Begin!

The whining, the whinging, the wackiness, the politicking and the debate is over. Golf is back in the Games and we can actually just talk about the play!

A cool, dreary day made for a less than exciting final practice day in Rio and softened up the course as golf is ready to return to the Olympic Games. Adilson da Silva of Brazil gets the honor at 7:30 a.m. local time.

We are told that this NBCOlympics.com location will be your best bet for a leaderboard, but do remember that this is a volunteer-driven system and several venues have been struggling on the scoring front.

**Update on scoring: the IGF site appears to be best right now, so use that.

The world feed by Olympic Broadcasting Services will provide most of the sights and sounds. In the States coverage begins at 6:30 am ET live on Golf Channel and runs until 3 pm ET. The network does have a few of its own cameras and technical goodies, but this will be a first-ever collaboration with the "OBS" on golf and may have its awkward moments over the course of Thursday's coverage. Brandt Packer produces, with a large team revolving in and out of the announce booth.

Before the golf gets going, here a few fun final reads in a lead-up that finally ceases after a 104-year wait.

Jaime Diaz senses that Olympic golf is already a surprising success before the first tee shot is hit, in part because Rio is the mess it was billed to be while the golf has been blissfully uneventful on the negative news front.

Doug Ferguson says the pieces are in place, golf just needs to put on a show. But what is that show? I polled a few writers today and everyone has different opinions, yet all just want a fun finish. Which, as Ferguson notes, the design should allow for if the first round winds don't wreak havoc.

Does it need a big name winning the gold medal, like Stenson or Kaymer or Watson? A surprise winner from a developing golf nation like Li Haotong of China or Kiradech Aphibarnrat of Thailand? A playoff like the way Rickie Fowler won The Players Championship? A dominant performance like Stenson at Royal Troon?

The U.S. team was thrilled to watch Michael Phelps and meet him at Tuesday night's swimming event, writes Jay Coffin. It was amazing to hear so many seasoned sports media talk about the buzz in the venue after the Phelps win. Coffin also on Rickie getting plenty of thanks for making the effort to be here.

GolfChannel.com with a swell roundup of social media from the golfers, including a great shot of Rickie meeting Phelps recovering after his 200 meter butterfly gold medal.

I wrote for GolfDigest.com about Martin Kaymer's view that this has been a career-altering week, already.

Henrik Stenson seemed a bit edgier than normal Wednesday, but stuck to his message that 10 years from now, no one will remember all of the pre-tournament negativity and only remember who medaled, writes Rex Hoggard in this preview.

Stenson's take on the most impressive athletes he's seen in the Olympic Village gym, from Golfweek.com's Alex Miceli.

Bubba is all about the gold. Bronze, schmonze, writes Nick Menta.

Bob Harig on how the "grow the game" part of the Olympic story has already happened in significant ways, which hopefully will allow golf to be more comfortable in its skin and focus on competitive improvements

Lungani Zama shares Jaco van Zyl's thoughts on golf in the Games perhaps sustaining too much PR damage to overcome, but he doesn't care because he's having the time of his life and thinks the course presents a fine test.

Danny Lee is also having a swell time, 100 times better than expected to be exact, writes Alistair Tait.

“It’s got to be right next to the major events,” said Lee, 26, a native South Korean who was raised in New Zealand. “It’s just as big, and you don’t have this kind of chance every year. It’s a once-in-four-year chance."

The clubhouse is going to catch your eye over the next few days. I explain the idea and functional concept behind the building. Like the golf course, it was no small feat to get built.

A gallery by Keely Levins of the team golf bags for the Games.

Tim Finchem had nice seats for Michael Phelps' historic 25th medal (upper left corner).