. The Parisian course faces its Olympic debut showcasing all its magnificence, a great challenge for the 60 players taking part in the men's Olympic competition from August 1st to 4th. 

Scottie Scheffeler, the world number one, didn't mince words in his first appearance before the media at the Golf National press center. The American golfer, one of the leading contenders for the gold medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics, declared with unwavering ambition that "winning the gold medal is one of the reasons I'm here this week.".

The Golf National, a well-known venue, which faces its Olympic debut within the framework of its rich history, nevertheless succumbs to the presence of the true protagonists, the players, among whom is the aforementioned Scottie Schaffele, who aspires to add the third gold medal for the United States in the men's golf competition after those achieved by Charles Sands in Paris 1900 and Xander Schauffele in Tokyo 2020.

The world number 1 is among those who, being early risers, while waiting for all the participants to arrive on Tuesday, have already visited the course to have a first contact with the fairways and greens of Golf National. 

“The rough isn’t as hard as it was in the 2018 Ryder Cup, but it’s still something you should avoid,” he said before highlighting the unity among all the American representatives, four in total, all members of Team USA in the last Ryder Cup.

“Competing in the Olympic Games is not an everyday occurrence. That's why this tournament is so special and why winning it is so meaningful to me,” emphasized the athlete who is a strong contender for a podium finish on August 4th.

Golf National, a hive of activity

Golf National, host of the men's and women's Olympic tournaments from August 1-4 and 7-10, is a hive of activity three days before the start of the men's competition. Hundreds of supervisors, maintenance staff, workers from all sectors, and volunteers are working hard to get the facility ready, a facility that exudes magnificence from the moment you step inside.

Golf National boasts a well-deserved reputation as a course with more than enough capacity to host prestigious competitions, ever since its inauguration in 1991, when it has annually hosted the French Open. Its breakthrough came in 2018, when it hosted a Ryder Cup event in which Jon Rahm, among others, played a key role in the European team's victory over the Americans.

Jon Rahm: “It’s a very demanding course”

The Basque golfer, before landing in Paris as the winner of the LIV Golf UK this past weekend, just four days before the start of the Olympic competition, has already stated that “it is a demanding course, where you have to do everything right from tee to green, a course that suits my game, one you can't hide from in any way. If everything goes smoothly, I will have a chance to win a medal.”.

This line of opinion was also echoed by the Japanese players Hideki Matsuyama and Keita Nakajima, currently ranked 12th and 83rd in the World Ranking, who also visited the press center. Both emphasized the numerous challenges of the Parisian course, stating, “It’s crucial to place the ball correctly from the tee so that your second shot allows you to reach the green in good condition. Any initial doubt or problem can lead to disaster.”.

Hideki Matsuyama's speech deserves special mention, as he expressed the immeasurable value of representing his country. "Three years ago, at the Tokyo Olympics, I fought until the very last moment to qualify for a playoff that would have led to a medal," he recalled, eager to repeat the experience.

Neither he nor his partner Keita Nakakima will have it easy, just like the vast majority of participants, because the competition seems enormous from the very first moment on a course that is waiting latently for the golfing machinery of all the participants to get going. 

A magnificent journey with numerous challenges within it

However, until August 1st arrives, there are thousands of details hidden in the organization of an event with the characteristics of the Olympic tournament: immense stands, rest areas, delimitation of paths and flows of people... very important issues that nevertheless give way to the magnificent Parisian route as soon as the eye, forced by its intrinsic beauty, rests upon it.

The first thing that catches the eye is the feeling of a links-type course with interesting variations that include greens with noticeable slopes, wide and undulating fairways, water hazards and a good number of bunkers marking its course. 

Special mention for the final four holes, pure spectacle, the holes that give the definitive seal of quality, surrounded by water obstacles that make the Albatros course a real challenge, a magnificence that will give way to the prominence of those who win the medals.

AROUND THE GREEN

The winners of Olympic golf 

2020 – Tokyo

Men's competition: Gold: Xander Schauffele (USA); Silver: Rory Sabbatini (Slovakia); Bronze: CT Pan (Chinese Taipei) 

Women's competition: Gold: Nelly Korda (USA); Silver: Mone Inami (Japan); Bronze: Lydia Ko (New Zealand)  

2016 – Rio de Janeiro)

Men's competition: Gold: Justin Rose (Great Britain); Silver: Henrik Stenson (Sweden); Bronze: Matt Kuchar (USA) 

Women's competition: Gold: Inbee Park (Korea); Silver: Lydia Ko (New Zealand); Bronze: Shanshan Feng (China) 

1904 – St. Louis  

Men's competition: Gold: George Lyon (Canada); Silver: Chandler Egan (USA); Bronze: Burt McKinnie (USA) and Francis Newton (USA) 

Women's competition: not held

1900 – Paris

Men's competition: Gold: Charles Sands (USA); Silver: Walter Rutherford (Great Britain); Bronze: David Robertson (Great Britain) 

Women's competition: Gold: Margaret Abbott (USA); Silver: Pauline Whittier (USA); Bronze: Daria Pratt (USA)