Ava Romero
Golf is an Olympic sport, with men's and women's individual stroke play competitions. The sport was featured in the 1900 and 1904 Olympic Games, and after a long hiatus, it was reinstated for the 2016 Summer Olympics. Since then, it has featured in the 2020 and 2024 Olympic Games, with the latter involving 60 men and 60 women golfers. While the 2024 Olympics will not include a team golf event, the 2028 Summer Olympics will introduce a new mixed team golf event, consisting of 16 pairs drawn from the qualified individual golfers.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| First included in Olympics | 1900 |
| Governing body | International Golf Federation |
| Number of players | 60 men and 60 women |
| Qualification criteria | Official World Golf Ranking |
| Number of players per country | 4 |
| Paris 2024 gold medalist | Scottie Scheffler |
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What You'll Learn
Golf's Olympic history
Golf has had a sporadic history as an Olympic sport. It first became an Olympic sport during the second edition of the modern Games in Paris in 1900. It returned for the 1904 Games in St. Louis, which featured a men's individual tournament and a men's team competition. The 1904 tournament was the first and only team golf competition at the Olympics, featuring teams from various regional golf associations in the US.
Golf then took a 112-year hiatus from the Olympics, with attempts to include it in the 1908 and 1920 Games being cancelled due to a lack of entries. In 2009, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) voted to reinstate the sport for the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio. The Rio Games saw Justin Rose of Great Britain win the men's title, with the Republic of Korea's Inbee Park claiming the women's gold.
Golf also featured at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics (held in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic), with Xander Schauffele of the USA winning the men's gold medal. Nelly Korda of the USA won the women's tournament. Golf will once again be featured at the Paris 2024 Olympics, with Scottie Scheffler of the USA winning gold.
In April 2025, it was announced that a new mixed team event would be added to golf for the 2028 Summer Olympics. This will consist of 16 pairs drawn from those who have qualified for the Olympic tournaments, competing in alternate shot and four-ball rounds.
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Qualification criteria
The International Golf Federation (IGF) will utilise the official world golf rankings to create the Olympic Golf Rankings (OGR) as a method of determining eligibility. The OGR takes into account the total points earned in the most recent 52-week and 13-week periods. The top 15 athletes on the OGR will be selected by name and secure their Olympic quota places, with a maximum of four athletes per National Olympic Committee (NOC).
Following that, athletes ranked 16th onwards on the OGR will be selected by name and allocated their quota places, with up to a maximum of two athletes per NOC, including those within the top 15. If an allocated quota place is not confirmed or is declined by the NOC, it will be reallocated to the highest-ranked eligible athlete who has not already qualified.
Each country's golf federation may have additional criteria or selection processes to finalise their Olympic team, including national championships or performance in key tournaments. These criteria ensure the best players represent their country, considering factors like current form, experience, and potential for success.
The host country is guaranteed at least one spot in the competition, promoting local interest and support.
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Team USA's golfers
Golf was first recognised as a sport in the Summer Olympic Games in 1900 and was also played in the 1904 Games. However, it was dropped after the 1904 Games and didn't feature again until 2016, when it was reinstated for the Rio Olympics. The International Golf Federation is the governing body for golf at the Olympic Games, and qualification is based on the Official World Golf Ranking for men and the Women's World Golf Rankings. The top 15 of each gender automatically qualify, with a limit of four per country.
The USA's men's and women's golf teams are poised for Olympic glory at the 2024 Paris Olympics. The competition will be held at Le Golf National, which has a par score of between 70 and 72, with most holes classified as par-4s. The USA's golfers will be up against some of the world's top-ranked players, including Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy and Spain's Jon Rahm. However, with a strong team and a history of success in the sport, Team USA is sure to be a force to be reckoned with on the Olympic golf course.
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Medal winners
Golf has featured in the Olympic Games intermittently since 1900. The sport was absent from the Olympic program for 112 years before making a comeback in 2016.
1900 Olympic Games, Paris
The first edition of the modern Olympics in 1896 did not feature golf. However, the sport made its Olympic debut four years later at the 1900 Games in Paris, France. Charles Sands of the USA won the gold medal, with Walter Rutherford of Great Britain taking silver, and his compatriot David Robertson claiming bronze. In the women's competition, Margaret Abbott of the USA became the first-ever female golf Olympic champion, with her compatriots Pauline Whittier and Daria Pratt taking silver and bronze, respectively.
1904 Olympic Games, St. Louis
The 1904 Olympics in St. Louis, Missouri, featured only a men's golf competition, with individual and team events. George Lyon of Canada won the individual gold medal. H. Chandler Egan of the USA claimed silver, while Burt McKinnie and Francis Newton, both of the USA, shared bronze.
2020 Olympic Games, Tokyo
Golf returned to the Olympic program in 2016, and in 2021, Nelly Korda of the USA won the women's golf gold medal at the Tokyo Games.
2024 Olympic Games, Paris
Golf will be part of the Olympic Games in Paris in 2024, marking the sport's third consecutive appearance since its comeback. The men's competition has already concluded, with Scottie Scheffler of the USA taking gold, Tommy Fleetwood of Great Britain winning silver, and Hideki Matsuyama of Japan earning bronze. The women's tournament is yet to take place, with Nelly Korda of the USA and Rose Zhang expected to be among the medal contenders.
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Future changes to Olympic golf
Golf was first featured in the Summer Olympic Games in 1900 and again in 1904. However, it was discontinued until 2016 when the International Olympic Committee (IOC) reinstated the sport. Since its reinstatement, Olympic golf has consisted of men's and women's individual stroke play.
There have been calls for changes to the format of Olympic golf, including the addition of a match play tournament, a team tournament, and suggestions to open up the Olympic tournament to more golfers. One of the most prominent advocates for change is LIV Golf star Jon Rahm, who has urged the International Golf Federation (IGF) to amend the qualifying criteria and format of the Olympic Golf Tournament. Rahm has suggested that countries should have more freedom in choosing their representatives, and he would like to see a team aspect introduced to the Olympics.
In April 2025, the IOC and IGF announced that a new mixed-team event will be added to golf for the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. This format will consist of 16 pairs drawn from the 60 men and 60 women who have qualified for the individual tournaments. The competition will be held over 36 holes, with an opening round of foursomes (alternate shot) and a final round of four-ball play.
The introduction of a mixed-team event in golf at the 2028 Olympics is a significant development, and it remains to be seen whether further changes will be implemented in the future.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, golf is an Olympic sport. It featured in the 1900 and 1904 Summer Olympics but was removed before the 1908 Games. The sport was reinstated for the 2016 Summer Olympics.
Qualification is determined by ranking. For the 2024 Paris Olympics, the top 60 men and 60 women golfers qualified through the Official World Golf Rankings (OWGR). The top 15 players of each gender are eligible, with a maximum of four golfers from a single country.
Olympic golf competitions consist of men's and women's individual stroke play. There will be a mixed team event added for the 2028 Summer Olympics.
Notable Olympic golfers include Nelly Korda, who won gold at the 2020 Tokyo Games, and Scottie Scheffler, who won gold at the 2024 Paris Games. Other golfers include Xander Schauffele, Collin Morikawa, and Wyndham Clark.
