EDITORIAL – AN INTRODUCTION TO OLYMPIC GOLF: HISTORY, DIVISIONS, PLAYING STYLES, AND MORE!

Only golf geeks and Olympic aficionados might know that, contrary to popular belief, the first Olympic golf competition did not take place in 2016 but in 1900 in Paris. Charles Sands emerged victorious over the one-day, 36-hole competition and Margaret Abbott captured the 9-hole ladies’ gold medal. In 1904, at the Games in St. Louis, Missouri, only men competed. A team competition was contested followed by five grueling days of 36-hole matches among the 32 who survived — you guessed it — a 36-hole qualifier!

Fortunately, when golf returned in 2016, sanity prevailed and the standard 72-hole tournament format was used. Sixty golfers qualified for both the men’s and women’s competition, with a maximum of two golfers per country (four if they were all ranked in the top 15 in the world). Justin Rose won the gold medal in a tight race over Henrik Stenson, with bronze medalist Matt Kuchar saying he was never so happy to finish third in his entire life. Inbee Park of Korea took home the women’s gold.

There was lukewarm interest in the 2016 golf competition among some of the world’s best, with many opting not to play, and the 2021 competition was marred by COVID-19. However, the 2024 edition proved to be extremely popular among both fans and players. Rory McIlroy noted that the two purest forms of golf they play — the Olympics and the Ryder Cup — do not offer any prize money directly. It goes to show that among even the world’s best players, all of whom are millionaires many times over, the thrill of victory and representing one’s country are still worth pursuing on their own merits