With the Masters fast approaching at the speed of light, and thus the first Major of the 2024 season set to begin in just over eight days, it’s worth taking a moment to also consider another important event of this year: the Paris Olympics.
Golf, news
The tournament, both for men and women, will take place at Golf Le National in early August, and yet the first rumors about who will and who will not participate are already starting to surface. And indeed, there are no shortages of surprises.
For instance, both Brooks Koepka and Tyrrell Hatton are at risk of not playing, as many stars affiliated with the Saudi LIV circuit are plummeting in the World Ranking, the gateway to the Olympics. So, how does admission to the tournament work? Firstly, the top 15 players in the OWGR are automatically included in the field, with a maximum of 4 players per country.
After the top 15, the Olympic Golf Rankings allow for the participation of two players for all those nations that do not already have at least two representatives in the famous top 15. Koepka, currently outside the top 30 and with many American colleagues ahead of him, risks losing his spot, just like Dustin Johnson or Bryson DeChambeau.
Likewise, Tyrrell Hatton’s situation is precarious; currently ranked number 16 in the World Ranking, with Tommy Fleetwood and Matthew Fitzpatrick ahead, he could be excluded. However, the Englishman has the chance to earn valuable world ranking points and climb back up, especially in the upcoming Masters at Augusta.
Although affiliated with the LIV, John Rahm shouldn’t have any issues qualifying, anchored at number 3 in the OWGR. At this precise moment, he would be in the Spanish team alongside the young promise David Puig, who, despite playing in the LIV, is amassing points and victories on the Asian Tour.
As for Adam Scott’s situation, the Australian, who has never wanted to participate in the Olympics in Rio and Tokyo, describing the tournament as “just an exhibition,” will certainly not be part of the Paris event. Like him, others who have requested not to participate include German Marcel Siem and South African Louis Oosthuizen, as well as Belgian Thomas Pieters.
For Italy, at this moment Matteo Manassero and Guido Migliozzi would be on the field, our two best representatives in the world rankings.
