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What Format Will Golf Play in The Olympics?

As the world anticipates the Paris 2024 Olympics, golf enthusiasts are eager to understand the unique stroke play format of Olympic golf. This article delves into the specifics of the no-cut policy, compares Olympic golf to PGA and LIV tournaments, and highlights the qualification process and key players to watch.

12 July 2024 Words by Matthew 4 minute read What Format Will Golf Play in The Olympics?

Table of Contents

  1. What Is The Format Of Olympic Golf In Paris 2024?
  2. What Is The Qualification Process For Olympic Golf?
  3. Who Is Playing At The Paris 2024 Olympics?
  4. FAQs
  5. Final Thoughts

As the world starts to gear up for the 2024 Olympics, so too are avid golfers and golf enthusiasts to watch their favourite players in action. But this also calls for a good understanding of the format of Olympic golf, since it may be a little different than what you're used to.

From understanding how the game is played to learning more about how each player qualifies for this competition, we've compiled all of the most important information on the subject. Plus, with this guide, you'll get the low-down on everything you need to know before watching the Olympics.

That way, you can understand the nuances behind the tournament and follow along as you cheer your country's players to victory.

What Is The Format Of Olympic Golf In Paris 2024?

Understanding the format of Olympic golf is important if you're planning on following along and watching your favourite player compete against the top golfers in the world. This includes the intricacies of the stroke play format, the no-cut policy, and how Olympic golf compares to the format of other golf competitions like the PGA and LPGA tours.

Stroke play format

Olympic golf follows the traditional stroke play format, where golfers accumulate scores based on the number of shots they take over the course of the game.

Each player's score is then tallied cumulatively across four rounds, which totals 72 holes played over four consecutive days.

This format allows for more consistent performance assessment across the multiple days of the competition.

No cut policy

Unlike some other professional tournaments, like the PGA Tour, which implements cuts after the second round to reduce the field, Olympic golf doesn't have a cut. This means that all participants continue to play through each of the four rounds - regardless of their performance in previous rounds.

By doing this, it's guaranteed that every competitor has an opportunity to complete the tournament and potentially improve their standings.

How does Olympic golf compare to other formats?

  • PGA Tour: The PGA Tour also uses a 72-hole stroke play format. However, it typically cuts the field after the second round. This means that only players scoring within a specified range of the leader continue to compete in the subsequent rounds.

  • LIV Golf: In contrast, LIV Golf has a much shorter 54-hole stroke play format, played over three days. It also incorporates a team element where players compete together. This format aims to provide a dynamic and team-based approach to a professional golf competition.

So, now you already know that the Olympic golf tournament consists of individual stroke play, where each player competes independently to achieve the lowest combined score after four rounds of play. But the winner is then determined based on the lowest overall score, with bronze, silver, and gold medals awarded to the top three players in each category.

What Is The Qualification Process For Olympic Golf?

For the Olympics, the qualification process follows the system of Olympic Golf Ranking (OGR). In the 2024 Paris Olympics, golf will have 120 athletes competing, split equally between 60 men and 60 women.

The ranking system relies on the Official World Golf Rankings (OWGR), which are usually updated every week based on how players perform in tournaments across the globe. But how exactly do players qualify? And how does it work? The answer is actually pretty straightforward.

How does the process work?

Points are awarded based on where the players finish in their tournament. The higher they finish and the tougher the competition, the more points they earn. The rankings are then updated every Monday, and by Tuesday, you can see who's leading on the International Golf Federation's (IGF) website.

To directly qualify for the Olympic golf competition, players need to rank among the top 15 in the OWGR. Plus, each country can have up to four players if they're in the top 15. After that, countries can have up to two more spots based on their world rankings to make up 60 players. This setup ensures that players from across the world get a chance to compete for the gold medal in the Olympic games.

It's important to note that there is also a rule that guarantees at least one player from each continent (like Africa, Europe, or Oceania) will get to play in both the men's and women's competitions. Even if nobody automatically qualifies, the highest-ranked player from that continent will get a spot and a chance to play.

Who Is Playing At The Paris 2024 Olympics?

There are some big names who have qualified to play at this year's Olympics, making the competition more fierce and exciting than ever. Below, we've listed the top 15 players (men and women) who will be competing based on their OGR results.

That way, you can gear up to cheer your favourite player on as they play their way through the competition (and hopefully win a few gold medals in the process).

Surprisingly (or perhaps unsurprisingly, depending on how you view it), there are a lot of representatives for team USA this year.

Men's tournament

  1. Scottie Scheffler: USA, World Rank: 1

  2. Rory McIlroy: Ireland, World Rank: 2

  3. Xander Schauffele: USA, World Rank: 3

  4. Ludvig Åberg: Sweden, World Rank: 4

  5. Wyndham Clark: USA, World Rank: 5

  6. Viktor Hovland: Norway, World Rank: 6

  7. Collin Morikawa: USA, World Rank: 7

  8. Jon Rahm: Spain, World Rank: 9

  9. Matsuyama Hideki: Japan, World Rank: 12

  10. Tommy Fleetwood: United Kingdom, World Rank: 13

  11. Matt Fitzpatrick: United Kingdom, World Rank: 18

  12. Matthieu Pavon: France, World Rank: 20

  13. Sepp Straka: Austria, World Rank: 21

  14. Jason Day: Australia, World Rank: 24

  15. Kim Joo-hyung (Tom Kim): South Korea, World Rank: 26

Women's tournament

  1. Nelly Korda: USA, World Rank: 1

  2. Lilia Vu: USA, World Rank: 2

  3. Ko Jin-young: South Korea, World Rank: 3

  4. Yin Ruoning: China, World Rank: 4

  5. Amy Yang: South Korea, World Rank: 5

  6. Céline Boutier: France, World Rank: 6

  7. Hannah Green: Australia, World Rank: 7

  8. Charley Hull: United Kingdom, World Rank: 8

  9. Rose Zhang: USA, World Rank: 9

  10. Saso Yuka: Japan, World Rank: 10

  11. Minjee Lee: Australia, World Rank: 11

  12. Atthaya Thitkul: Thailand, World Rank: 12

  13. Kim Hyo-joo: South Korea, World Rank: 13

  14. Brooke Henderson: Canada, World Rank: 14

  15. Lin Xiyu: China, World Rank: 15

FAQs

What happens if there are ties in Olympic golf?

Ties in Olympic golf are usually settled through a playoff. This means that the players involved in the tie will compete in additional holes until a clear winner can be determined.

Not only is this incredibly exciting with some added suspense and drama, but it also ensures fair play. When there are playoffs, it ensures that each medal winner (bronze, silver, and gold) is given an award based on their performance throughout the entire tournament.

How are tee times determined in Olympic golf?

Tee times in the Olympics are typically determined or assigned based on player rankings and, of course, the tournament schedule. Higher-ranked players will usually tee off later in the day while lower-ranking players will tee off earlier. Just be sure to keep an eye out for when these tee times are so you don't miss any of the action!

How many golfers play in the Olympics?

There are a total of 120 golfers who compete in the Olympics. This is split into 60 players in the women's tournament and 60 players in the men's event. An equal split helps to make sure that there is equality between men and women who are competing and allows for a more diverse and accurate representation of the top players in the world.

Where are the 2024 Olympics being held?

The 2024 Olympics are being held in Paris, France. More accurately, the golf competition is being held at Le Golf National, which is located in Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, around 26 kilometres outside of the city centre.

The venue is well-known for its championship-calibre course and actually hosts major golfing events like the Ryder Cup. This makes it an ideal setting for the 2024 Olympic golf competition.

Final Thoughts

The golf tournament at the 2024 Olympics is sure to be a thrilling display of pure skill and tons of action as some of the world's best golfers compete for glory among their strongest competition. With so many golfers participating in the Olympics - especially some of the biggest names in the world - it's sure to be an unforgettable tournament for any avid golfer.

So, whether you're watching the men's or women's event (or both), you're going to want to keep an eye on the tournament schedule to know when your favourite players are teeing off. After all, you won't want to miss a second of this competition. With a great line up and a lot on the line, you're guaranteed some incredible plays and displays of unbelievable skill.

 

Matthew

Chief Golfer and Global Sales Director

Matthew joined Glenmuir in 2005 and has nearly 30 years of golf industry experience, despite his youthful appearance. He relishes his regular Sunday morning tee time slot at Bingley St Ives Golf Club and then analysing the highs, and lows, of the round in the clubhouse afterwards. He currently has the lowest golf handicap at Glenmuir…for now.

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