World No. 1 Jordan Spieth is excited by the prospect of golf at the 2016 Olympics, saying that he will treat it like a ‘fifth major’.

“I think this year we’re going to approach it as a fifth major and we’re going to prepare like it is,” Spieth said in The Age.

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“It’s not a team event in golf, I think unfortunately – but you go down and approach it like a major.”

“Winning a gold medal has got to be up there now in my mind with a major championship.

“I’ve been asked the question, green jacket, gold medal or Open championship? That’s not fair.”

Spieth is Down Under as he prepares to defend his Australian Open title.

The 22-year-old won last year’s tournament by six shots and is a significant drawcard for organisers ahead of Thursday’s opening round at The Australian Golf Club in Sydney.

The American has enjoyed a brilliant 2015, in which he was won both the US Masters and the US Open.