Olympic Games 2024: What is the format for Olympic Golf?

How does the format work for Olympic Golf?

How will the Olympic golf tournament work at Le Golf National, and how will the gold medal winner be decided?

Unlike most team tournaments, such as the Ryder Cup and the Solheim Cup which are matchplay showdowns, the 2024 Olympic Golf contenders will play a stroke-play format as they are technically competing for an individual prize.

Since golf was reintroduced into the Olympic games in 2016, both men’s and ladies’ tournaments have been played in a stroke-play format.

This year will see the Olympic teams from across the globe compete at Le Golf National in a 72-hole competition, with no cut after two days. That means the size of the field remains at 60 (for both men and women) throughout the four rounds.

In Rio 2016, Team GB’s Justin Rose triumphed to take home the gold medal with a score of 16-under, Sweden’s Henrik Stenson won silver with a score of 14-under and the USA’s Matt Kuchar won bronze after he finished on 13-under par.

Republic of Korea’s Inbee Park took home the women’s gold medal at 16-under par, followed by New Zealand’s Lydia Ko at 11-under, and China’s Shanshan Feng at 10-under par.

2024 Open Champion Xander Schauffele won gold in Tokyo in the men’s event back in 2021 (which were the 2020 games that had been delayed due to Covid-19) with a score of 18-under par, with fellow American Nelly Korda taking gold in the women’s event after finishing up on 15-under par.

What happens if there’s a tie?

If more than one player finishes on the same score for any of the medal places, a playoff is needed to determine who gets gold, silver or bronze.

In 2021, we were treated to an epic, seven-way battle for the bronze medal in the men’s competition. Chinese Taipei’s C.T. Pan prevailed on the fourth extra hole, beating the likes of Rory McIlroy, Colin Morikawa and home favourite Hideki Matsuyama. “I never tried so hard in my life to finish third,” lamented Rory afterwards.

What will the format be for the 2028 Olympics?

Nelly Korda and Scottie Scheffler versus the rest of the world? It really could happen! Who wouldn’t want to see the two current World No.1s playing together in a team competition? Such a blockbuster pairing won’t be happening in Paris, but there’s a good chance it will in four years’ time.

The International Golf Federation (IGF) has revealed that a proposal was submitted in January to the IOC to include a 36-hole team contest at the 2028 LA Games at Riviera Country Club.

Subject to approval, the mixed event would take inspiration from the Grant Thornton Invitational on the PGA Tour and feature 16 teams playing one round of foursomes and fourball better ball between the respective individual competitions.

Antony Scanlon, the Executive Director of the IGG, said the Los Angeles 2028 Organising Committee is fully supportive of the concept and that further conversations are set to take place with IOC officials in the coming months.

About the author

Sarah Pyett – Deputy Digital Editor

Sarah Pyett is the Deputy Digital Editor of todays-golfer.com. She plays off a handicap of 4, and specializes in ladies’ equipment reviews, including drivers, irons, and golf balls.

After a career in a golf professional shop, and earning a qualification in golf club management, Sarah joined Bauer in 2014 as a Web Producer for Today’s Golfer. She has since worked across multiple brands in a mixture of digital marketing and paid media roles, before returning to focus on golf full-time as Deputy Digital Editor in 2024.