There's a lot more wildlife on the Olympic golf course in Rio than your average birdies and eagles.

Australia's golfers scoping out the venue this week have already come face-to-face with the world's largest rodent, the capybara, a slightly horrifying-looking creature that roams the course's fairways.

Australian team captain Ian Baker-Finch appeared a little gobsmacked after encountering the animal, which is native to South America and weighs between 35 and 65 kilograms.

While capybara are not usually considered dangerous to humans, Baker-Finch will be keeping his distance, when golf makes its return to the Olympics this week after a 112-year absence.