Harper Lin
Golf has been included in the Summer Olympics on several occasions, with a long history dating back to the early 1900s. After a significant hiatus, the sport made a comeback in the 2016 Rio Olympics, and has since featured in the 2020 Tokyo Games and the upcoming 2024 Paris Olympics. The inclusion of golf in the Olympics has sparked varied reactions, with some players embracing the opportunity to represent their countries, while others have expressed concerns about scheduling conflicts with major championships. The Olympic Golf Competition consists of individual stroke play for both men and women, with rankings determined by the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) and Women's World Golf Rankings.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Is golf a Summer Olympic sport? | Yes |
| First featured in the Summer Olympics | 1900 |
| Contested again in | 1904 |
| Cancelled in | 1908 |
| Reinstated in | 2016 |
| Number of golfers in the 2024 Olympic Games | 120 |
| Number of golfers in the men's event in 2024 | 60 |
| Number of golfers in the women's event in 2024 | 60 |
| Number of sports in the LA 2028 Summer Olympics | 35 |
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What You'll Learn
Golf's Olympic history
Golf has had a sporadic history as an Olympic sport. It is officially recognised as first featuring in the Summer Olympic Games programme in Paris in 1900. It returned for the 1904 Games in St. Louis, which also featured the first (and only) team golf competition at the Olympics. However, rather than golfers teaming up by nation, the competition featured teams of 10 from various regional golf associations around the United States.
Golf then took a long hiatus from the Olympics, with attempts to include it in the 1908 and 1920 Games failing due to a lack of entries. It finally returned to the Olympic programme in 2016, with tournaments in Rio de Janeiro and, later, Tokyo in 2020. The 2020 Olympic golf competition saw two Americans, Xander Schauffele and Nelly Korda, clinch gold medals.
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 International Golf Federation (IGF) uses the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) to create the Olympic Golf Rankings (OGR) as a method of determining eligibility. The top 15 world-ranked players will be eligible for the Olympics, with a limit of four players from a given country.
In April 2025, it was announced that a new mixed team event will be added to golf for the 2028 Summer Olympics.
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Olympic Golf Rankings
Golf was first recognised as a sport in the Summer Olympic Games programme in 1900 and was also contested at the 1904 Summer Olympics. The sport was notably absent from the Olympics for a century until its revival in 2016 in Rio de Janeiro. Golf was also contested at the 2020 Tokyo Games and the 2024 Paris Olympics.
The Olympic Golf Rankings (OGR) are calculated by the International Golf Federation (IGF) using the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) for men and the Women's World Golf Rankings. The top 15 world-ranked players are eligible for the Olympics, with a maximum of four players from a given country. Beyond the top 15, players are eligible based on world rankings, with a maximum of two eligible players from each country that does not already have two or more players among the top 15. The host country is guaranteed one spot.
The OGR is calculated every Monday following the completion of the previous week's tournaments from around the world and is updated on the IGF website every Tuesday. Points are awarded to athletes based on their final positions in each event, with performances in events with stronger fields earning more points. Ranking points for each player accumulate over a two-year "rolling" period. The OGR is ordered according to the average points accumulated over this two-year period.
The 2024 Olympic Golf competition will feature 120 athletes, with 60 players each in the men's and women's events. The men's tournament will take place from August 1–4, followed by the women's event from August 7–10 at Le Golf National, located just outside Paris in Guyancourt, France.
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Qualifying for Olympic golf
Golf became an Olympic sport at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, ending a 112-year absence. The sport was last featured in the 1904 St. Louis Games. At the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, which was postponed to 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, golf made its third appearance in the modern Games. Now, let's take a detailed look at the qualification process for Olympic golf.
Qualification for the Olympic golf tournament is based on world rankings. The qualification period for the men's and women's events typically begins a year or two before the Games, with the specific dates determined by the International Golf Federation (IGF) and the International Olympic Committee (IOC). During this period, golfers have the opportunity to accumulate points through their performance in professional golf tournaments around the world.
For both the men's and women's competitions, a total of 60 players qualify for the Olympic Games. The qualification criteria give priority to having a diverse range of nations represented. Here's a breakdown of the qualification process:
- World Ranking Qualification: The top 15 players in the Olympic Golf Rankings qualify, with a limit of four golfers per country. This ranking is based on the official World Golf Ranking (men) or Women's World Golf Ranking (women). This is the primary pathway for golfers to secure their spot in the Olympics.
- Country Representation: If a country does not have at least two golfers qualified through the world rankings, the highest-ranked golfer from that country qualifies, provided they are inside the top 200 (men) or top 400 (women) in the respective world rankings. This rule ensures a wider representation of nations in the Olympic golf tournament.
- Filling Remaining Spots: Once the first two criteria are met, the remaining spots in the 60-player field are filled by golfers from unrepresented countries, again based on their world ranking position, until the field is complete.
- Minimum Participants: If the host country does not have any golfers qualified, then the highest-ranked golfer from the host country automatically qualifies, provided they are inside the top 200 (men) or top 400 (women). Additionally, if any universal eligibility places (refugee athletes) are not used, they are also allocated to golfers from unrepresented countries based on world rankings.
- Withdrawal and Reallocation: If a qualified golfer chooses to withdraw or is unable to compete, their spot is reallocated to the next-highest-ranked golfer from the same country or, if not available, to the highest-ranked golfer from an unrepresented country.
The qualification process for Olympic golf ensures that the world's top golfers have the opportunity to represent their countries while also promoting diversity and giving golfers from smaller golfing nations a chance to compete on the Olympic stage.
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Format of Olympic golf tournaments
Golf was recognised as a part of the Summer Olympic Games in 1900 and 1904. However, it was removed soon after and only made a return in 2016. The 2024 Olympics in Paris will be the third Olympics in a row to feature men's and women's golf tournaments.
The format is identical for the men's and women's tournaments. Both events are 72-hole individual stroke-play tournaments, with each tournament taking place over four rounds on consecutive days. Scores are cumulative across each round, and the player with the lowest score at the end of the four days wins.
Each tournament consists of 60 players, with 20 tee times each day and players competing in groups of three. There is no cut in Olympic golf events, meaning all 120 competitors across the men's and women's events will play all four days.
In the event of a tie, a playoff will be held to determine the winner. If two players are tied for first place, they will compete in a playoff, with the winner earning gold and the loser taking silver. If there are three or more players tied for the lead, medals will be awarded based on their performance in the playoff. If there is a clear winner and several players are tied for second, the tied players will compete in a playoff to determine who takes silver and bronze.
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Golfers' views on Olympic participation
Golf has featured as a Summer Olympic sport only five times since its recognition in 1900. The sport was also contested in 1904, and after a long hiatus, it returned to the Olympics in 2016. The history of golf in the Olympics has been brief, with only 98 golfers competing before its revival in 2016.
The Olympic Golf Rankings (OGR) and qualification standards have also been a topic of discussion among golfers. The OGR is calculated based on performances in various ranking tournaments around the world, with points awarded according to final positions and the strength of the field. The qualification standards for the Olympic tournament limit the number of golfers from each country, which has resulted in a strong but not entirely elite field. Some golfers, like Shane Lowry, have commented on the impact of these standards, drawing comparisons to other sports where qualification times or rankings are essential for participation.
While the Olympics provide a platform for golfers to represent their countries and gain recognition, the sport is often associated with big-money tournaments like the Masters and the PGA Championship. As a result, golfers' priorities and the value they place on Olympic participation may differ. However, with the addition of a mixed team event for the 2028 Summer Olympics, there is a growing interest in golf's Olympic presence, and it will be interesting to see how golfers' views evolve as the sport continues to feature in the Games.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, golf is a summer Olympic sport.
Golf was a medal sport in 1900 when the second Summer Games were held in Paris and again in 1904 during the Olympics in St. Louis.
Golf was last played at the 2020 Tokyo Games.
Golf will be played at the 2024 Paris Olympics at Le Golf National.
There will be 120 athletes competing in the golf competition at the 2024 Paris Olympics, with 60 players each in the men's and women's events.
