
Golf at the Olympic Games follows an individual stroke-play format, similar to events on the PGA and LPGA tours. The competition consists of 72 holes played over four 18-hole rounds across four days, with a no-cut policy, meaning all 60 players in the men's and women's fields progress to the final two rounds. The winner is determined by the lowest cumulative score at the end of the four rounds, with the top three finishers receiving gold, silver, and bronze medals. The International Golf Federation (IGF) uses the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) to create the Olympic Golf Rankings (OGR), which determines player eligibility, with a maximum of four players from a given country.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Format | Individual stroke-play |
| Number of holes | 72 |
| Number of rounds | 4 |
| Number of days | 4 |
| Number of players | 60 |
| Maximum number of players from a country | 4 |
| Maximum number of clubs in a bag | 14 |
| Tee-off rules | Players may elevate the ball off the ground using a plastic or wooden tee for the first shot of each hole |
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What You'll Learn

The competition is an individual stroke-play tournament
The Olympic golf competition is an individual stroke-play tournament. This format is similar to events on the PGA and LPGA tours, as well as major championships. The competition consists of 72 holes played over four 18-hole rounds across four consecutive days.
In each round, players start from the tee box, where they are allowed to use a tee to elevate the ball for their first shot. Subsequent shots must be played as the ball lies on the course. Once the ball reaches the putting surface or the green, players can mark, pick up, clean, and replace it. Advancing the ball toward the hole with a club counts as one stroke, and players are only allowed to use their clubs to make contact with the ball. If a shot results in an unplayable situation, such as the ball going out of bounds or landing in a water hazard, the player incurs a penalty.
Players are positioned on a leaderboard based on their score relative to par. The winner of the tournament is the player with the lowest cumulative score, i.e., the fewest total strokes, after all four rounds. In the event of a tie, the players involved compete in a sudden-death playoff.
It is important to note that, unlike PGA and LPGA tour events, Olympic golf does not include a cut. All 60 players in the men's and women's fields progress to the final two rounds, with no reduction in the field size after the first two days of play.
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There are 72 holes played over four days
The Olympic golf competition is an individual stroke-play tournament consisting of 72 holes played over four days. Both the men's and women's golf tournaments at the Olympics are made up of four 18-hole rounds. Each time a player advances the ball toward the hole using a club, it is recorded as one stroke.
In each round, players start from the tee box and are allowed to elevate the ball off the ground using a tee for the first shot only. For subsequent shots, the ball must be played as it lies on the course. Once the player's ball reaches the putting surface, they can mark, pick up, clean, and replace it.
Players may only use their clubs to contact the ball, and they are limited to carrying a maximum of 14 golf clubs in their bag during a round. Clubs can be swapped out between rounds or if a club is damaged through no fault of the player.
The golfer with the lowest cumulative score at the end of the four rounds wins the gold medal, with silver and bronze medals awarded to second and third place, respectively.
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The player with the lowest score wins
The Olympic golf competition is an individual stroke-play tournament, similar to events on the PGA and LPGA Tours. The player with the lowest score wins.
In each round, players start at the tee box and take their first shot, which is the only time they are allowed to elevate the ball with a tee. Subsequent shots must be played as the ball lies on the course. Each time a player advances the ball toward the hole with a club, it is counted as one stroke. Players may only use their clubs to make contact with the ball. If a player's shot results in the ball going out of bounds or landing in a water hazard, they incur a penalty.
The Olympic golf competition consists of 72 holes (four 18-hole rounds) played over four consecutive days. There is no cut, meaning all 60 players in the men's and women's fields progress to the final two rounds. The golfer with the lowest cumulative score at the end of the four rounds wins the gold medal. Second and third-place finishers receive silver and bronze medals, respectively.
In the event of a tie at the top of the leaderboard after the four rounds, the players involved will compete in a sudden-death playoff to determine the winner.
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The ball must be played as it lies on the course
The Olympic golf competition follows an individual stroke-play format, similar to events on the PGA and LPGA tours. The competition consists of 72 holes played over four days, with 18 holes played each day.
One of the basic rules of golf, including in the Olympics, is that the ball must be played as it lies on the course. This means that, except for the tee shot, players cannot elevate the ball off the ground using a tee or any other means. They must play the ball from its resting position on the course.
This rule adds a layer of challenge and unpredictability to the game, as players must adapt their strategy and shot selection based on the position of the ball. It also emphasizes the importance of accuracy and precision in shot-making.
Players who breach this rule may incur a penalty, which can affect their overall score and ranking in the competition. Therefore, it is crucial for golfers to have a thorough understanding of the rules and regulations of the game to avoid any unintentional infractions.
Adhering to the rule of playing the ball as it lies is essential for maintaining the integrity of the game and ensuring a fair competition among all participants. It is a fundamental aspect of the strategic and technical nature of golf, requiring players to demonstrate their skill, focus, and adaptability to excel in the Olympic tournament.
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Each player can carry a maximum of 14 golf clubs
The Olympic golf competition follows an individual stroke-play format, similar to events on the PGA and LPGA tours. The competition consists of 72 holes played over four days, with 18 holes played each day.
Players begin each hole from the tee box. For this first shot, players may use a plastic or wooden tee to elevate the ball off the ground. For subsequent shots, the ball must be played as it lies on the course. Once the player's ball reaches the putting surface (the green), they are free to mark, pick up, clean, and replace the ball. Advancing the ball toward the hole using a club is recorded as one stroke, and players may only use their clubs to make contact with the ball.
In the event of a tie after the four rounds, those players will compete in a sudden-death playoff.
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Frequently asked questions
Olympic Golf utilizes an individual stroke-play format. The winner is the player who records the fewest total strokes to complete 72 holes.
There are four 18-hole rounds, totalling 72 holes.
The top 15 world-ranked players are eligible for the Olympics, with a limit of four players from a given country. Following that, players will be eligible based on world rankings, with a maximum of two eligible players from each country that does not have two or more players among the top 15.
The International Golf Federation (IGF) uses the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) to create the Olympic Golf Rankings (OGR) as a method of determining eligibility. Ranking points for each player accumulate over a two-year "rolling" period.
Players begin each hole from the tee box and may use a tee to elevate the ball for this shot only. For subsequent shots, the ball must be played as it lies. Each time a player advances the ball toward the hole with a club, it is recorded as one stroke. Players may only use their clubs to contact the ball.












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