Yes. Golf is an Olympic sport. It returned to the Olympics in 2016 (Rio de Janeiro) after a 112-year absence. It will be in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
Olympic golf history
| Year | Location | Men's gold | Women's gold |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1900 | Paris | Charles Sands (USA) | Margaret Abbott (USA) |
| 1904 | St. Louis | George Lyon (Canada) | Not held |
| 1908-2012 | -- | Golf not included | |
| 2016 | Rio de Janeiro | Justin Rose (GBR) | Inbee Park (KOR) |
| 2020 | Tokyo (held 2021) | Xander Schauffele (USA) | Nelly Korda (USA) |
| 2024 | Paris | Scottie Scheffler (USA) | Lydia Ko (NZL) |
| 2028 | Los Angeles | Confirmed | |
Why golf left the Olympics
After 1904, golf was dropped because of low participation and logistical challenges. Only a few countries had enough golfers to field competitive teams. The sport was proposed for reinstatement several times over the following century, but the IOC consistently rejected it.
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The turning point came in 2009 when the IOC voted to include golf starting in 2016. The arguments that won: golf had grown into a global sport, it would bring high-profile athletes (Tiger Woods was still dominant), and it would increase viewership in key markets like the US and Asia.
How Olympic golf works
The format is 72-hole individual stroke play over 4 days, the same format used in most professional golf tournaments. 60 players compete in each event (men's and women's), selected based on world rankings.
Qualification rules:
- Top 15 in the world rankings get spots (max 4 per country)
- Beyond the top 15, max 2 players per country
- Host country is guaranteed at least 1 spot in each event
- Continental representation ensures geographic diversity
No cut is made. All 60 players compete in all 4 rounds.
2024 Paris results
The 2024 Paris Olympics men's golf was played at Le Golf National, the same course that hosted the 2018 Ryder Cup. Scottie Scheffler, world #1 at the time, won gold. Jon Rahm took silver. Tommy Fleetwood earned bronze.
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In the women's event, Lydia Ko won gold, completing a medal set (bronze in 2016, silver in 2020, gold in 2024). She's the first golfer to win 3 Olympic medals.
2028 Los Angeles
The 2028 LA Olympics will include golf at Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades, California. Riviera is one of the most prestigious courses in the US and hosts the PGA Tour's Genesis Invitational annually.
Does Olympic golf matter to pros?
It's grown in importance. In 2016, several top players skipped Rio (citing Zika virus concerns or scheduling). By 2024, all top-ranked players competed. Winning gold has become a career highlight, even for major champions.
Xander Schauffele called his 2020 gold medal one of the biggest wins of his career. Nelly Korda said the same about her women's gold.
For more on golf's history, see the Grand Slam in golf and our scoring guide.
