The countdown to the start of the golf competition at the Paris Olympic Games is nearing its end. There are exactly 100 days left until the men's tournament, which will take place from August 1st to 4th, begins with the aim of determining who will win the gold, silver, and bronze medals.

Just three days later, also at the prestigious Le Golf National course located near Versailles, the women's competition will begin, from August 7 to 10 in this case.

“With 100 days to go until the start of the Olympic golf competitions, we are excited to see how it is gaining momentum as we get closer to its celebration in Paris,” said Antony Scanlon, Chief Executive of the International Golf Federation. 

«"We know that Le Golf National will provide a top-level spectacle, so it is necessary to welcome the 120 golfers who will represent their countries at the biggest sporting event as they compete for Olympic medals at the top of the podium.".

Le Golf National, venue for major golf events

Le Golf National, one of Europe's most prestigious golf courses, will host both competitions. Owned by the French Golf Federation, it is located in Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, near Versailles. 

Le Golf National, which serves as the permanent venue for the French Open each year as part of the DP World Tour, has hosted important international competitions, most notably the 2018 Ryder Cup. Opened in 1991, it was completely renovated in 2016 to host the aforementioned Ryder Cup two years later.

Key Dates in Olympic Golf

June 12: 50 days until the start of the men's Olympic golf competition

June 17: Conclusion of the Olympic Golf Ranking for the men's competition

June 24: Conclusion of the Olympic Golf Ranking for the women's competition

July 23: The Olympic Torch visits Le Golf National

July 29: Announcement of matches and tee times in the men's golf competition

August 1-4: Men's golf competition

August 5: Announcement of matches and tee times for the women's golf competition

August 7-10: Women's Golf Competition

Sixty golfers in each category based on the Olympic Ranking

As in the Rio de Janeiro 2016 and Tokyo 2020 editions, participation rises to 60 golfers, both male and female, who will fight for the gold, silver and bronze medals through a stroke play competition of 72 holes developed over four days of 18. 

These 60 available places in each category are allocated through the so-called Olympic Golf Ranking (OGR) published on the website of the International Golf Federation (IGF), which is based in turn on the World Golf Ranking as follows:

 – The first 15 ranked in the Olympic Golf Ranking, both male and female, as of June 17 (men) and June 24, 2024 (women), qualify directly to participate in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, with the exception that there cannot be more than 4 golfers from the same country within that Top 15.

– The remaining places are filled from 16th place onwards, with a maximum of 2 golfers per country for those that do not have more than 2 representatives within the Top 15.
   
  The host country, France, is guaranteed at least one representative in each of the male and female categories if it does not have any entitlement based on its position within the respective Official World Rankings.

Likewise, the presence of at least one representative from each of the five continents of the Olympic Movement (Africa, America, Asia, Europe and Oceania) is guaranteed in both the men's and women's events, if they do not achieve it through the aforementioned Official World Ranking.

Golf is back in the Olympic Games

The discipline of golf was present at the Olympic Games in the Paris 1900 and Saint Louis 1904 editions, disappearing from the program in 1908. Its reinstatement became effective on October 9, 2009 when the IOC Selection Committee, meeting that day in its 121st plenary session in Copenhagen, once again included golf in the Olympic Program.

 Officially reinstated at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games, England's Justin Rose and South Korea's Inbee Park won the gold medals at stake in a tournament where Spain earned two Olympic diplomas thanks to Rafael Cabrera-Bello (who finished fifth) and Sergio García (eighth). In the women's category, Azahara Muñoz finished twenty-first and Carlota Ciganda thirty-ninth. 

Subsequently, at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games – held in 2021 as a result of the Covid pandemic – the victory went to Americans Xander Schauffele and Nelly Korda. 

The Spanish participation resulted in 38th and 59th place finishes for Adri Arnaus and Jorge Campillo in the men's competition, while Carlota Ciganda (29th) and Azahara Muñoz (50th) also finished outside the medal positions. Jon Rahm tested positive for Covid just four days before the start of the competition and was unable to participate.