Golf gets green light for new format at 2028 Olympic Games

The golf event is going to have a fresh new twist at the next Olympic Games in Los Angeles…

If you’ve dreamed of seeing Scottie Scheffler and Nelly Korda taking on Tom Kim and Jin Young Ko, or Tommy Fleetwood and Charley Hull squaring up to Rory McIlroy and Leona Maguire, then you’re edging closer to that being a reality.

The International Golf Federation has been lobbying for a mixed team event at the Games for a number of years – and now they have got their wish.

While announcing its official program for LA2028, the International Olympic Committee said there is a key focus on gender equality for the summer showpiece.

“For the first time in history, all team sports will have at least the same number of women’s teams as men’s teams, with water polo adding two women’s teams, making it now 12 women’s and 12 men’s teams.”

This, the release continued, will see “expanded mixed events” and that “archery, athletics, golf, gymnastics, rowing coastal beach sprint and table tennis will all see the inclusion of a new mixed team event”.

“The International Golf Federation is thrilled with the IOC Executive Board’s decision to approve the addition of a mixed-team event to the Olympic Golf program,” the IGF said in a statement.

The body also confirmed that more details will be released next week.

The men’s, women’s and mixed golf events at the 2028 Olympic Games will take place at Riviera Country Club – a regular PGA Tour stop for the Los Angeles Open in its various sponsorship guises since 1929. The club has also hosted a US Open, the PGA Championship twice, a US Senior Open, and the US Amateur.

Currently, the only mixed team event on the main tours is the Grant Thornton Invitational, which takes place at Tiburon Golf Club, Florida, in December.