Paris Olympics 2024: Golf History, Rules, Current Title Holders

Golf is a highly refined and profitable sport in contemporary times. It began in 15th-century Scotland, where players would try to hit a pebble over sand dunes and along tracks using a bent stick or club.

The game gained popularity in Europe during the 16th century, with King Charles I reportedly introducing it to England and Mary Queen of Scots bringing it to France while she was studying there.

Over the years, golf has become one of the most popular sports worldwide, producing legends such as Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy. But what is its history at the Olympics? Has golf been a significant sport in the Olympic Games?

Golf’s history at the Olympics

Golf made its Olympic debut at the Summer Games in 1900 and 1904 but was removed from the program for the 1908 London Olympics just two days before the event. Over a century later, golf was reinstated in the Olympics for the 2016 Games in Rio de Janeiro and also appeared in the postponed Tokyo Olympics, held in 2021.

Although two golf tournaments were planned for the 1920 Antwerp Olympics, they were canceled due to insufficient entries.

The United States is the most successful nation in golf’s brief Olympic history, with American athletes securing 13 medals, including five golds.

Rules

Golf matches typically consist of four rounds with eight holes each. The player who completes the course with the fewest shots is declared the winner. A key feature of golf is stroke play, a format commonly used in tournaments and also employed in the Olympics.

According to standard rules, after the first two rounds, a cut is made, and only players who score above the cut line advance to the final two rounds, while those below it are eliminated. However, in the Olympics, unlike PGA and LPGA tournaments, there is no cut rule, so all participants play the full four rounds.

If players are tied at the top of the leaderboard after all four rounds, they compete in a playoff round. If the tie persists, additional playoff rounds are held until a winner is determined.

Each hole presents its own challenges, such as sand traps or water hazards. If a ball lands out of bounds, such as in water, the player incurs a penalty.

Players are allowed to carry up to 14 golf clubs during a round and may change clubs between rounds. Typically, a golf player is accompanied by a caddie, who carries the clubs and provides strategic advice.

Reigning champions

Men’s individual: Alexander Schauffele (United States of America)

Women’s individual: Nelly Korda (United States of America)

How many athletes have secured spots for the golf events at the Paris Olympics?

A total of 60 male and 60 female players have qualified for the golf competition at the Paris Olympics through the Official World Golf Rankings (OWGR).

Athletes to look out for

Aditi Ashok: India’s Aditi Ashok will aim to improve on her fourth-place finish at the Tokyo Olympics in the women’s golf event.

Rory McIlroy: Rory McIlroy, a prominent name in golf, is expected to be a strong contender for gold in Paris. He will be seeking redemption after missing out on a bronze medal in Tokyo.

Nelly Korda: Nelly Korda, the current Olympic champion in women’s golf, holds the No. 1 ranking and recently secured five LPGA Tour titles that helped her achieve this position.

Scottie Scheffler: American golfer Scottie Scheffler will be a significant rival to McIlroy in the men’s competition. Scheffler, who has held the No. 1 ranking for over a year, made a remarkable comeback from being No. 15 in the world to top the rankings in just five tournaments. He also won the prestigious Masters tournament in April.

When and where will the golf events be held during the Olympics?

The golf tournament at the Paris Olympics will take place from August 1 to August 10 at the Le Golf National course in Paris.