Major Champion and local hero Celine Boutier is going for gold at the Paris Olympics

Major champion Celine Boutier will be hoping to send fans crazy at the Paris Olympics

Today’s Golfer spoke to major champion and local hero, Celine Boutier, to talk all things Olympic Golf ahead of Paris 2024.

Celine Boutier is a five-time LPGA Tour winner, including one Major Championship, and she also has five LET wins to her name. Boutier will be representing France at the Paris Olympics in August, alongside fellow LPGA tour player Perrine Delacour. We spoke to Boutier about her history at the host course Le Golf National, and the Olympic atmosphere in Paris.

Having grown up 30 minutes from the course and been a part of the youth academy at Le Golf National, how special will it be going back there, representing your country again on such a global stage?

It will be amazing. When I was growing up and watching the Olympics, I never imagined I’d be playing golf at the Olympics in my home country, let alone at Le Golf National. It’s always an honor to represent one’s country, so to be able to do it at home will be extra special.

Do you feel extra pressure, carrying the hopes of your nation on your shoulders, or is that something you embrace?

I think I’d rather call it support than pressure. As with the Evian Championship last year, there was obviously an element of pressure playing at home, but the overwhelming feeling of support was incredible and helped to ease the pressure.

Will you attend the Opening Ceremony and stay in the Olympic Village?

I will be attending the Opening Ceremony but like many of the golf teams, we are not staying in the Village as it’s quite a long journey from there out to Le National.

We are staying together as a team at a venue on the West of Paris that has easier access out to the golf course. I’m spending some time in Paris during the second week of the Olympics, so I’m really looking forward to experiencing the atmosphere that the Games will bring.

How does Le Golf National compare to other courses you’ve played on the LPGA and LET?

It’s a very challenging course from tee to green, and I definitely think it could have the potential to host a Major. The final four holes, in particular, are very challenging. The two island greens on 15 and 18 put an emphasis on being on the fairway, so anything can happen on those holes for sure.

What attributes do you think you need to possess to play well there?

I think that your long game has to be very good to perform well on this course and it can get a bit windy there, too, so a good control of your ball flight will be helpful. I do have some very good memories of winning an amateur tournament there, so I would say it suits my game!

Nelly Korda is the favorite to win gold again, having won in Tokyo. But do home advantage and course experience give you the edge?

Nelly was obviously very dominant earlier this year, she’s proved to be tough to beat and she obviously won gold in Tokyo last time around. But every tournament is different, and I know that if I play my best golf that week, I’ll be close. All I can do is to concentrate on my own game and hope that it’s good enough to come out on top and win gold!

The Olympics is unique in the sense that finishing second or third is still celebrated as being a success. Usually, that’s not the case in golf. Would you be happy with any medal or is it all about winning for you?

That’s a great question. Clearly gold is the aim for me but I guess there would be some satisfaction from winning any medal. But I think I’d have to experience that to know how I’d feel for sure!

About the author

Michael Catling – Features Editor

Michael Catling is Today’s Golfer‘s Features Editor and an award-winning journalist who specializes in golf’s Majors and Tours, including DP World, PGA, LPGA, and LIV.

Michael joined Today’s Golfer in 2016 and has traveled the world to attend the game’s biggest events and secure exclusive interviews with dozens of Major champions, including Jack Nicklaus, Tom Watson, Gary Player, Greg Norman, Viktor Hovland, Jordan Spieth, Xander Schauffele, and Justin Thomas.

Get in touch with Michael via email and follow him on Twitter.