Nina Caldwell
Golf has been included in the Olympic Games on several occasions, but its inclusion has not always been consistent. The sport made its debut at the 1900 Summer Olympics, with 22 golfers competing, and also featured in the 1904 Games, which saw 77 golfers take part. However, attempts to include golf in the 1908 and 1920 Games were unsuccessful due to disputes and a lack of entries. After a 112-year absence, golf returned to the Olympics in 2016, featuring individual stroke play tournaments for men and women. The qualification pathway is based on the Official World Golf Ranking for men and the Rolex Women's Rankings for women, with a maximum of four golfers per country. The sport's inclusion in the Olympics has sparked varying reactions, with some embracing the opportunity to compete for their countries and others questioning its relevance.
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What You'll Learn
Golf's Olympic history
Golf has had a sporadic history in the Olympic Games. It first featured in the Summer Olympic Games programme in 1900 and was also contested at the 1904 Summer Olympics. A total of 98 different golfers competed in these two tournaments. The 1900 tournament featured 22 golfers, while 77 golfers took part in 1904.
Golf was scheduled to appear again at the 1908 London Olympics, but the tournament was cancelled less than two days before it was due to start because of a dispute between competitors from England and Scotland over the tournament format. This dispute led to a boycott by British golfers, leaving 1904 gold medallist George Lyon of Canada as the only entrant. Lyon was offered a gold medal by default but declined it.
Golf was also scheduled to make a comeback at the 1920 Antwerp Games, with two tournaments planned. However, these tournaments were cancelled due to a lack of entries.
After these failed attempts, Olympic golf competition disappeared until 2009, when the International Olympic Committee (IOC) decided to reinstate the sport for the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio. Since its return, Olympic golf competitions have consisted of men's and women's individual stroke play. Qualification is based primarily on the Official World Golf Ranking for men and the Rolex Women's World Golf Rankings for women, with a maximum of four golfers per country.
The 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris marked the third consecutive Games to feature golf, with 60 golfers from 32 countries taking part in the men's competition. Scottie Scheffler of the USA won the gold medal.
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Qualifying for the Olympics
Golf was first recognised as a sport in the Olympic Games programme in 1900 and was also contested in 1904. However, it was discontinued until 2016 when it was brought back at the Rio Games. The sport is governed by the International Golf Federation (IGF) at the Olympic Games.
Qualifying for the Olympic Games is based on the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) for men and the Rolex Women's World Golf Rankings or the Olympic World Golf Ranking (OGR) for women. The top 15 golfers of each gender automatically qualify, with a maximum of four golfers from a single country. The remaining spots are filled based on the world rankings, with a maximum of two eligible golfers from each country that does not have two or more players among the top 15. This continues until 59 athletes are reached, with one spot reserved for the host country. Each continent is guaranteed at least one athlete in each of the women's and men's events. If they have not qualified automatically, the spots will be allocated to the highest-ranked athletes from the continent without representation.
The OGR is calculated every Monday after the completion of the previous week's tournaments and updated on the IGF website every Tuesday. Points are awarded based on the final positions in each event, with performances in events with stronger fields earning more points. These points accumulate over a two-year rolling period.
The Olympic Golf Competition consists of 72 holes (no cut) of individual stroke play for both men and women, with four rounds scheduled over four consecutive days. The player with the lowest overall score wins the gold medal, while the second and third-place finishers receive silver and bronze medals, respectively.
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Olympic venues
Golf has been recognised as an Olympic sport since 1900, when it first featured in the Summer Olympic Games. However, it has not been a consistent fixture at the Olympics, and the sport was notably absent for 112 years before it was reintroduced in 2016.
The 2016 Olympic Games, held in Rio, marked the return of golf to the Olympics after a long absence. The competition was held over four days, with the men's tournament taking place from 1-4 August, and the women's tournament following from 7-10 August. The venue for the 2016 Olympic golf competitions was the Albatros Course at Le Golf National, located about 25 miles southwest of downtown Paris in the town of Guyancourt. This course has a rich history in the sport, having hosted the DP World Tour's French Open since 1991 (except for 1999 and 2001) and was the site of the 2018 Ryder Cup.
The format of the Olympic golf competition mirrors that of events on the PGA and LPGA Tours. It is an individual stroke play tournament consisting of 72 holes played over four days. The player with the lowest cumulative score at the end of the four rounds wins the gold medal, with second and third place receiving silver and bronze respectively.
In 2024, golf will once again be featured in the Olympic Games, this time returning to Paris. The venue for the 2024 Olympic golf tournaments will again be Le Golf National in Guyancourt, just outside of Paris. The competition will feature a total of 120 players, with 60 golfers from each gender competing in two separate medal events. The qualification pathway and format for the 2024 Games remain the same as in 2016, with players qualifying based on the official IGF world ranking list.
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Medal winners
Golf was first introduced to the Olympic Games in 1900, and it featured again in 1904. However, there was a 112-year gap before it made a comeback in 2016. During this long hiatus, there were attempts to include golf in the 1908 and 1920 Games, but these were unsuccessful due to disputes and a lack of entries, respectively.
1900 Paris Olympics
The first Olympic golf tournament in 1900 was held in Paris and included both men's and women's competitions. Charles Sands of the USA won the gold medal in the men's event, with Walter Rutherford of Great Britain taking silver and David Robertson, also of Great Britain, claiming bronze. In the women's tournament, Margaret Abbott of the USA became the first-ever female golf medalist, winning gold. Pauline Whittier (silver) and Daria Pratt, both from the USA, joined her on the podium.
1904 Olympics
In 1904, only a men's tournament was held. George Lyon of Canada was the sole remaining entrant after a dispute between competitors from England and Scotland caused British golfers to boycott the event. Lyon was offered the gold medal but declined it. H. Chandler Egan of the USA claimed silver, while Burt McKinnie of the USA and Francis Newton of the USA shared bronze.
2016 Rio Olympics
Golf returned to the Olympic programme in 2016, with Justin Rose of Great Britain taking gold, Henrik Stenson of Sweden winning silver, and Matt Kuchar of the USA securing bronze. In the women's event, Inbee Park of South Korea won gold, Lydia Ko of New Zealand took silver, and Shanshan Feng of China earned bronze.
2020 Tokyo Olympics
At the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, postponed to 2021 due to COVID, Xander Schauffele of the USA won gold, Rory Sabbatini of Slovakia took silver, and Pan Cheng-tsung of Chinese Taipei claimed bronze. In the women's tournament, Nelly Korda of the USA won gold, Mone Inami of Japan took silver, and Lydia Ko of New Zealand earned her second Olympic bronze medal.
2024 Paris Olympics
Golf will be featured once again in the 2024 Paris Olympics, marking the third consecutive inclusion of the sport. Scottie Scheffler of the USA and Lydia Ko of New Zealand are the most recent Olympic golf gold medalists.
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Golf's relevance at the Olympics
Golf has had a sporadic history in the Olympics, featuring in the 1900 and 1904 Games, with failed attempts to include it in 1908 and 1920, before its reinstatement in 2016. Despite this, the sport has grown in relevance since its return to the Olympic stage.
The Olympic Games provide a unique opportunity for golfers to represent their countries and compete for medals, which some consider the pinnacle of the sport. The Olympics also introduce golf to a broader audience, attracting viewers who may not typically watch golf tournaments.
The qualification pathway for the Olympic golf tournaments is based on the Official World Golf Ranking for men and the Rolex Women's Rankings for women, with a maximum of four golfers per country. This system ensures that the top players in the world have the opportunity to represent their countries, while also allowing for participation from a diverse range of nations.
The format of the Olympic golf competition has been criticised for resembling professional tours, with some calling for a more unique or inclusive format. However, the individual stroke play format, with 72 holes played over four days, provides a familiar structure for golfers and viewers alike.
The inclusion of golf in the Olympics has been controversial, with some arguing that it should be an amateur-only event or that it takes up too much air time. However, others defend its inclusion, recognising the historical prestige associated with Olympic medals and the opportunity it provides for golfers to represent their countries.
Overall, the relevance of golf at the Olympics has evolved since its reinstatement, attracting top golfers, generating excitement among fans, and introducing the sport to new audiences.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, golf is played at the Summer Olympics. It first featured in the 1900 Olympic Games and was also contested in 1904. However, it was then absent for 112 years before returning in 2016.
The Olympic golf competition is similar to events on the PGA and LPGA Tours. It is an individual stroke play tournament consisting of 72 holes played over four days. The golfer with the lowest cumulative score at the end of the four rounds wins the gold medal. The second- and third-place finishers receive silver and bronze medals.
Qualification is based primarily on the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) for men and the Rolex Women's World Golf Rankings (WWGR) for women. The top 15 of each gender automatically qualify, with a limit of four per country. The remaining spots are then awarded to the highest-ranked players from countries that have not yet qualified two players.
