In this third Olympic golf event since the sport’s reinstatement, the only players from the top 10 absent are two Americans, who were disqualified due to having four other compatriots ranked higher.
Consequently, Patrick Cantlay (ranked eighth in the world) and Bryson DeChambeau (ninth) are left out since prominent players like Scottie Scheffler, Xander Schauffele (winner of both the Open and US PGA Championship), Wyndham Clark, and Collin Morikawa are all positioned in the world’s top six.
The popular DeChambeau is a significant omission. As the US Open champion, he would undoubtedly hold a higher ranking if he weren’t participating in the LIV circuit, which does not award ranking points.
“That’s just how Olympic qualification works,” McIlroy noted. “You could have the fifth-best sprinter globally, but if he’s from a particular country, he might not qualify.”
“It’s just the nature of the qualification rules in the Olympics—and this applies beyond golf,” he added.
Though McIlroy has recently softened his stance towards LIV’s role in the golf scene, the 35-year-old four-time major winner expresses limited empathy.
“Comparing the golf they play to ours is challenging,” he stated.
“That’s why they didn’t earn world ranking points. If you wanted to qualify for the Olympics, you should know what was required.”
“Similar to qualifying for the Ryder Cup, they were fully aware of the choices they made.”
Nonetheless, due to varying skill levels across countries, seven LIV players will participate in the Olympics, including Spaniards Jon Rahm and David Puig. The latter earned his spot by making the cut at the US Open held at Pinehurst in June.
“Making the cut wasn’t my primary goal, but the first round (76) was quite challenging,” said the dynamic 22-year-old Spaniard.
“In my second round, my objective was to secure the cut and make the Olympic team.”
“I was nervous, but it was a positive kind of nerves that helped me perform well on Friday. I was pleased with my score (68) and proud to make the team.”
Rahm, the 2023 Masters champion, arrives for his Olympic debut after achieving his first LIV victory at the JCB course in Staffordshire last Sunday.
“This victory was significant for many reasons,” Rahm said regarding his triumph since Augusta.
“When you’ve been in that position before, it’s comforting to know you can do it again; I’ve experienced that recently.”
The Olympic event follows the established format of 72-hole individual stroke play. Many believe that incorporating a team aspect could enhance the competition.
“We are representing Spain,” Rahm remarked.
“It would be incredibly rewarding to share the spotlight with another player, expressing our national pride in a format that’s different from our usual play.”
