After the mental gymnastics of golf’s existence as an Olympic sport, the deliberation of the format and the contemplation of a mixed event in the future, we were treated to a sublime finish to the men’s golf event in Paris.
Scottie Scheffler took the gold medal with a Sunday 62 which will come as a surprise to no one on the surface, but several players mounted bids to reach the top of the podium including silver medallist Tommy Fleetwood, Jon Rahm, Hideki Matsuyama and Rory McIlroy.
The World No.1 rubberstamped what has already been an incredible season for the Masters champion. He broke down in tears as the USA anthem was played after the action, adding another layer of passion to this golf onion that evolved last week.
Fans online discussed how to watch coverage across the BBC and other streaming platforms, the format itself, team dress and the fantastic entertainment which the world’s best served up. So there was a lot to discuss and take away. NCG’s Tom Irwin picked up on a few things and scribbled them down for us to mull over…
1. Let’s keep the individual format of the Olympic Games golf event
The crowd responding to Victor Perez’s Sunday charge, Ireland daring to dream as Rory gave us all hope for an hour or so, and millions of British armchair fans rooting for Tommy Lad down the stretch.
I don’t think this has to do with the ‘team’ format, yes you are on a team and yes, the bigger nations had compatriots in the same event, but this is still an individual sport with an individual prize.
The absence of prize money, the feeling of national pride being on the line, and an understanding of the glory of gold born in childhood make it mean more for everyone, fans and players alike.
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2. It’s time to tweak how Olympic golf is shown on TV
Trying to work out where to watch it was quite difficult. Maybe it was just me. I know it wasn’t just me, the most visited page on our website over the last week has been ‘How can I watch Olympic Golf?’
For something that is supposed to be free to air, there wasn’t a lot of ‘air’ on the BBC. The coverage was moved around, paused, and interspersed with cuts to other sports. A stroke play golf tournament is one where the narrative develops over a period, the enjoyment comes from wallowing in watching it unfold.
I did eventually work out that I could watch an uninterrupted broadcast, for free, on Discovery +. After some subscribing and QR code clicking, I was away.
I think this is another BBC own goal with regards to golf. Why not just show the whole thing on a separate stream?
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3. A strong field which might have been stronger…
The field is like a parallel universe of LIV Golf, but all the good guys. There was a lot of strength in the Olympic Golf field. Scheffler and Xander Schauffele are undoubtedly the best golfers on the planet this year, and unlike the first two renewals, all selected players took up their spots.
There was some depth and obviously a pleasingly diverse field but in a limited field there were a very small amount of potential winners.
You know that Brooks, Rose, Bryson, Thomas, Spieth etc are missing, which leaves the event feeling like an exhibition. Which of course is what it is designed to be, a platform to showcase golf to the wider world in the hope that newer players will pick up a club.
Can an Olympic medal, be considered the same status as an Open Championship? Of course not.
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4. The Olympic golf course 2024 was great!
Le Golf National was a massive success. Perhaps this shouldn’t be a surprise. Le Golf National is really close to the city, really close to Versailles and easy to get to. The crowds came out in force.
30,000 a day is almost Open Championship galleries to watch a field half the size. This follows on the back of a well-attended LIV event. There is clearly an appetite for live golf for a British and European fanbase starved of live events.
Also following on from JCB, another purpose-built championship event delivered as a spectator experience for those on the ground and for those at home watching on TV. Chewy rough, a lot of water, green greens, and a smart selection of pins made for some real thrills and spills on Sunday where any score on any hole seemed possible.
5. US kit designers should go back to the drawing board…
The outfits were hit-and-miss. I get you have to wear the teams’ colours and I am here for the Irish get-up. I quite liked the Team GB t-shirt and loved Perez’s French ensemble. But the USA’s trousers gave me PTSD and brought back memories of those potato print tees from Brookline and waterproofs that weren’t in 2010.
Something has gone very wrong if you are left yearning for a pair of khaki Farah’s and a monotone polo.
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6. Rory McIlroy got back on the rollercoaster…
We must mention Rory. He had me on the edge of my seat yesterday as he charged through the field, birdies at 10,11,12,13, and 14 brought him into the medals and only one from the leaders who were stumbling.
He reached the 15th, sucker front pin over the ubiquitous water. Every other player among the leaders hit it past the flag, took their four and moved on.
Not Rory. Caught up in the moment, the momentum, the narrative developing around him, he took it on, came up short and just like that, his challenge was over. All so relatable, all so frustrating, god love him.
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Did you enjoy the men’s Olympic Games golf event? What would you change, if anything, about the Olympic Games golf event? Tell us on X!
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