For most sportspeople, an Olympic gold medal is the pinnacle of a career - the highest possible achievement.
When it comes to golf though, standing on the podium and hearing your national anthem playing still does not rank quite as highly as the majors, or even the Ryder Cup or Solheim Cup, for most professional golfers.
Is that slowly beginning to change? A look at the star-studded fields for both the men and women at this summer's Olympic Games suggests that it might be.
Golf returned to the Olympics for the first time in more than a century at Rio in 2016, and is now set for its third consecutive playing starting this week in Paris. Justin Rose was one of the biggest names who really championed golf at the Olympics then, and he walked away with the gold medal, something that he rates just as highly as his US Open title from 2012.
This time around, the quality of the field proves just how seriously the golfers are taking the event, and we're set for two fantastic tournaments on a very tricky golf course.
The Course
Both the men’s and women’s tournaments will be held at Le Golf National, situated in Guyancourt just south-west of Paris.
The Albatros Course at Le Golf National is regarded as one of the most challenging courses in Europe. Known for its treacherous water hazards, strategic bunkering, and undulating fairways, it presents a rigorous test even for the most skilled golfers.
It’s a true major test which should examine all aspects of the game, making it a fitting stage for an Olympic competition. The course’s reputation was cemented during the 2018 Ryder Cup, where Europe completed a resounding victory over the United States, although it has frequently hosted the French Open with recent winners including Tommy Fleetwood.
The Field
The Olympic golf competition will feature both men's and women's individual stroke play events, with each field comprising 60 players.
The tournament spans four rounds over four days, with no cut, ensuring that all competitors play all 72 holes. The players earn their spots based on the Official World Golf Ranking, with a maximum of four golfers per country if all are ranked within the top 15.
The men’s tournament features Scottie Scheffler and Xander Schauffele as favourites, with Rory McIlroy and Jon Rahm close behind. Spaniard Rahm has had a quiet season so far but backed up a solid week at The Open with his first victory since joining LIV Golf last week.
Young European stars Viktor Hovland and Ludvig Aberg will also be taking part, whilst Hideki Matsuyama will be looking to improve on his fourth placed finish during the previous Olympic Games in his home country of Japan. Team GB will be represented by Tommy Fleetwood and Matt Fitzpatrick, while Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry will represent Ireland.
In the women’s event, Nelly Korda will enter as a clear favourite having already won six tournaments, including a major, in 2024 so far. The American’s form has cooled slightly in the past few weeks but she is still the one to beat.
One golfer who can be sure of lots of support is Celine Boutier, with the French star carrying the nation’s best hope of a medal despite a relatively quiet season so far… perhaps the home crowds can spur her on to victory?
Lydia Ko was a medalist in both Rio and Tokyo and will be looking to add a gold medal to her impressive resume, whilst Lilia Vu, Jin Young Ko and Atthaya Thitikul are all in with a great chance too. Team GB will feature Charley Hull and Women’s Open champion Georgia Hall.
Schedule and Tee Times
Men’s Tournament:
Thursday 1st August – First Round
Friday 2nd August – Second Round
Saturday 3rd August – Third Round
Sunday 4th August – Final Round and Medal Ceremony
Women’s Tournament:
Wednesday 7th August – First Round
Thursday 8th August – Second Round
Friday 9th August – Third Round
Saturday 10th August – Final Round and Medal Ceremony
Tee times for each day of both the men and the women begin at 9am local time, which 3am Eastern Time in the United States and 8am BST in the UK. With 60 golfers in each field playing in 3-balls, there are 20 tee times per day and a single tee start.
How To Watch
In the UK, coverage will be available via BBC Sport on TV, or via BBC iPlayer on their app. There will also be additional coverage available via Discovery+ and Eurosport.
In the USA, coverage will begin at 3am ET and will be shown on Golf Channel and Peacock.