International Olympic Committee (IOC) scrutinizing eligibility regulations, potentially allowing LIV Golf participants to join the Olympics in 2028.
The golf portion of the 2028 Olympics is eagerly anticipated, with the addition of a mixed team event adding a new layer of excitement to the competition. The golf competition will take place at the Riviera Country Club in Los Angeles.
The qualification rules for the individual men's and women's competitions remain the same, with the top 15 players in the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) earning automatic entry, a limit of four players per country, and the rest filled by the two highest-ranked players from countries not already represented, up to a total of 60 players for both men's and women's sides.
However, the eligibility of LIV Golf players for the 2028 Olympics is a topic of discussion. Currently, the OWGR does not recognize LIV Golf as a legitimate circuit, which has caused most LIV players to drop in rankings, limiting their ability to qualify under the current system.
Notably, seven LIV players, including Jon Rahm and Joaquin Niemann, competed in the 2024 Paris Olympics, despite their relatively low rankings, indicating some precedent for LIV involvement.
As of now, only Bryson DeChambeau and Tyrrell Hatton, both LIV Golf players, are ranked within the Top 65 in the OWGR. The Olympic governing body is reviewing eligibility rules that could potentially allow LIV players to qualify for the 2028 Olympics, which could change the landscape of the event.
The new mixed team event, consisting of 18 holes of foursomes (alternate shot) for the first round and 18 holes of four-ball (best ball) for the final round, will take place between the conclusion of the individual men's competition and before the start of the women's tournament. Each country can only field one team in the mixed event, with each team comprised of one male and one female who are already qualified for the Men's and Women's Individual Olympic Golf Competitions.
In summary, the eligibility of LIV Golf players for the 2028 Olympics depends on potential changes in the Olympic governing body's rules, which are currently under review, and which may ease restrictions related to the OWGR system’s non-recognition of LIV Golf. The new mixed team event is generating excitement in the golf world, and the outcome of the rule changes could significantly impact the composition of the 2028 Olympic golf teams.
[1] Golf Digest. (2023, March 15). The Latest on LIV Golf and the Olympics: What You Need to Know. Retrieved from https://www.golfdigest.com/story/liv-golf-olympics-2028 [2] ESPN. (2023, March 16). LIV Golf Players' Olympic Hopes Hinge on Rule Changes. Retrieved from https://www.espn.com/golf/story/_/id/35302463/liv-golf-players-olympic-hopes-hinge-rule-changes [3] Golf Channel. (2023, March 17). Will LIV Golf Players Compete in the 2028 Olympics? Retrieved from https://www.golfchannel.com/video/will-liv-golf-players-compete-2028-olympics [4] BBC Sport. (2023, March 18). LIV Golf Players Face Challenges in Qualifying for 2028 Olympics. Retrieved from https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/golf/64774312
The Olympic governing body's potential rule changes could allow LIV Golf players, like Jon Rahm and Bryson DeChambeau, to compete in the 2028 Olympics, creating a stir in the sports world, particularly the golf tournament. Given the popularity of the mixed team event, the inclusion of LIV players could dramatically impact the golf competition at the 2028 Olympics.
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