The popularity of golf at the Olympics is growing, but for American players, getting on the squad is still a hurdle. The sport received mixed reviews when it returned to the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro in 2016 since so many of the world’s best golfers declined to compete. Prominent golfer Rory Mcllroy publicly stated that he was not interested in watching golf at the Olympics. By the time of the subsequent Olympic games, Mcllroy had modified his position and was competing for the bronze medal with seven other athletes.
By the time we get to the present, things have drastically changed. The men’s competition in Paris will only feature two eligible players: Cristobal del Solar of Chile and Bernd Wiesberger of Austria. Even U.S. Open champion Bryson DeChambeau was unable to make the cut, demonstrating how hard the fight is to make the American team.
Olympic gold medallist Xander Schauffele, who is defending his title, concedes that the title is growing more and more prestigious. The current frontrunner for the gold medal, Scottie Scheffler, has already won six titles this season, including The Players Championship and the Masters.
Nelly Korda will be defending her title on the women’s side, although her recent results have been patchy. Countries are allowed to enter a maximum of four athletes, as long as they are ranked in the top 15 worldwide. The Olympic ranking is determined by the world ranking.
It will be interesting to watch how the tournament plays out in Paris as golf continues to gain popularity in the Olympics. Will other nations challenge the United States for a podium slot, or will the Americans be able to claim it? Time will tell.
