More than a medal! What you get for winning golf at the 2024 Paris Olympics

Nelly Korda with her Olympic gold medal

Those playing golf at the Paris 2024 Olympics are competing for more than just a medal, with prize money and world ranking points on the line too.

Professional golfers have differing opinions when it comes to the Olympics. Some view it as a huge honor to represent their country alongside elite athletes from other disciplines. Wyndham Clark even said it’s bigger than the Ryder Cup.

“The Ryder Cup in golf is kind of the biggest thing, but now that golf’s in the Olympics, it’s probably even bigger than that, because you’re representing your country at such a bigger level,” said the American, who will get his first taste of Olympic golf this year. “This probably ranks as the coolest team I’ve ever made, for sure.”

Other golfers are less bothered. Brooks Koepka, Tyrrell Hatton, Louis Oosthuizen, Thomas Pieters, Marcel Siem, and Adam Scott all opted out – although they wouldn’t have qualified anyway – with the latter describing it as an “exhibition” and suggesting the Olympic golf field should be made up of amateurs instead.

But what’s on the line for those who are teeing it up at Le Golf National?

The Olympic medal for Paris 2024

When they make history at the Paris Games this summer, medallists will take a piece of France – and its history – home with them too.

Exactly 5,048 medals have been designed by luxury jeweler Chaumet and embellished with scrap iron used in the construction of the Eiffel Tower.

Each 18g fragment has been placed in the center of each medal and reshaped into a hexagon, a geometric form which represents France. The pieces of iron are secured by small clasps resembling the rivets that hold the Eiffel Tower together and embossed with the emblem of the 2024 Games.

The back of each medal also features the Greek goddess of victory, Nike, with the Acropolis to one side and the Eiffel Tower to the other.

• What’s the format for Olympic golf?

Olympics prize money

There used to be no prize money at the Olympic Games, though World Athletics are breaking from tradition for the first time in 128 years and plan to reward the winners of all 48 disciplines with $50,000.

Some federations – including Germany’s Sports Aid Foundation – will also be paying out bonuses up to eighth place, though the British Olympic Association and the International Golf Federation have decided against any form of remuneration in Paris.

• The players representing Team GB at the 2024 Olympics

World ranking points and exemptions

There are World Ranking points on offer at the Olympics – and a decent amount, too. Xander Schauffele received 50.0000 for winning gold at Tokyo 2020. For context, that’s the same amount Justin Rose got for finishing T2 at The Open this year.

Perhaps of greater interest to the male victor this time is an exemption into all the Major championships in 2025, as well as the Players Championship and Tournament of Champions.

The women’s champion will also be rewarded with an invite to next month’s Women’s Open at St Andrews, as well as next year’s Chevron Championship, US Women’s Open, Women’s PGA Championship and Evian Championship.

• Where is the Olympic Golf being played in Paris 2024? Everything you need to know about the host course, Le Golf National

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, Jordan Spieth, Tom Watson, Greg Norman, Gary Player, and Justin Thomas.

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