LARAMIE – David Hearn has always been able to control his emotions on and off the golf course.

That has helped the former University of Wyoming standout become a regular member of the PGA Tour since 2011. He has amassed over $7.2 million in career earnings.

But something happened two weeks ago during the Canadian Open that made the normally cool golfer choke up a little.

Hearn – along with fellow Canadian Graham Delaet – were presented their Team Canada jackets for Rio Olympics, which start in earnest this weekend.

"It was a pretty special feeling and that's when it really started to hit home that I was going to be an Olympian," Hearn said. "I'm excited to get down there and experience what the Olympics have to offer. I want to do my country proud and bring home a medal."

The Brampton, Ontario, product played for the Cowboys from 1998 to 2001. Hearn will be one of 60 golfers competing in the Olympics for the first time since 1904.

When it was announced three years ago that golf would return to the Summer Games, Hearn marked it as one of his priorities for the 2016 season.

"I was really excited about that opportunity and thought it would be really neat," he said. "I tried not to focus on (making the team) too much because I'm, obviously, trying to achieve things each week on the PGA Tour to be competitive.

"I knew that if I played well week in and week out on the PGA Tour that would take care of itself in the end."

The 37-year-old is ranked 80th in the FedEx Cup standings and 99th on the PGA Tour money list with slightly more than $939,000 and well within the 125-player cutline for his tour card next season. Hearn's world ranking is No. 136.

Hearn is currently in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and will be part of Canada's opening ceremonies contingent tonight.

"It will be pretty special and unique to take in the opening ceremonies," Hearn said. "Then I'll have a few days to relax and soak it all in and then it will be down to business and trying to do what I can to compete for a medal."

The men's golf tournament is August 11-14 on a course that was constructed over the past three years specifically to host this event. No golfer in the field will have seen or played on the course before practice officially starts Monday.

"We'll all have the equal amount of opportunity to learn it in the same amount of time," Hearn said. "That will level the playing field a little bit. On the PGA Tour having knowledge of a golf course can benefit players more than others, but in this format nobody has an advantage."

Several of the top golfers in the world have declined to play for various reasons, including security, health issues and simply where the tournament falls on the schedule.

Not the former Cowboy.

"I've done a good job of staying informed along with the Canadian Olympic committee and International Golf Federation doing a great job of keeping us up to date through the whole process," he said. "The other times I've had to represent my country in golf there's a special feeling and pride and honor in that.

"The Olympics is the biggest sporting stage in the world and something I knew I couldn't turn down."

"Last couple months I've been playing some really solid golf with some good results," he said. "My game has a really strong combination to it right now. It's really steady and strong and I like my chances."