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SHANGHAI (Reuters) – World number two Phil Mickelson expects to see golf on the Olympic program in the near future, believing its inclusion would act as a spur to help the sport develop around the world.

The 37-year-old American impressed when he stopped off with his family in Beijing — venue of next year’s Olympics — on his way to Shanghai to play in this week’s $5 million Champions tournament.

“I think Beijing is going to be a wonderful host for the Olympics,” the three-times major winner told reporters on Wednesday.

“Hopefully in the future, golf will become an Olympic sport, because then the Olympic foundations from every country will start to fund and support golf in all the countries throughout the world and golf will become a much more global sport.”

Mickelson said another way of making the sport more global was for top players to take part in international tournaments, something he was hoping to do more and more.