Paris Olympics Golf medalists from L-R – Esther Henseleit (Silver), Lydia Ko (Gold), & Lin Xiyu (Bronze)
The Women’s Golf competition at the Paris Olympics brought together 60 top golfers from 33 countries, including all top-10 players in the world rankings. The overall feedback from the players was that the tournament exceeded their expectations, especially when it came to fan support as large numbers turned out to watch the Ladies play superb golf.
Here are five key takeaways for India Golf Weekly from the competition:
(1) Diksha Dagar’s Resilience Amid Adversity
I am in Paris @OlympicGolf and met THE @McIlroyRory …The King of ball striking ⛳️. pic.twitter.com/6O7UIDKEzT
— Diksha Dagar (@DikshaDagar) July 30, 2024
Diksha Dagar, a two-time winner on the Ladies European Tour (LET), represented India for the second time in the Olympics. Her journey was fraught with challenges, beginning with a car accident in Paris on the night of July 31st, a few days before the tournament began. While Diksha escaped serious injury, her mother suffered a neck injury that required hospitalisation. Despite the ordeal, Diksha remained focused and was back on the practice range the very next day, demonstrating resilience under stress.
Diksha carded rounds of 71-72 to be placed in the top 15 at the halfway stage before the stress overcame her due to her mother’s persistent troubles and she finished poorly with 80-78 to fall back.
(2) Fan turnout is testament to the growing popularity of Golf in France
Golf in France, overseen by the French Golf Federation, has been steadily growing in popularity, starting back in 2008 when it committed to hosting the 2018 Ryder Cup. The Federation has not only funded and built Le Golf National ( or The National Golf Club of France) but has also invested heavily in junior golf and creating driving ranges. With their strong performances at the Olympics, French golfers Perrine Delacour and Celine Boutier, the latter fresh off her 2023 Evian Championship victory, garnered significant local support. Boutier’s strong start with an opening round of 65 really fueled the excitement, drawing large crowds. With over 30,000 tickets sold per day, the Olympics demonstrated the growing appeal of golf in France.
(3) Lydia Ko’s Triumph Reflects True Olympic Spirit
After her gold medal victory, Lydia Ko was presented 27 white roses by LPGA Commissioner Mollie Marcoux Samaan to represent her 27 points that led to LPGA Hall of Fame qualification ⭐️ pic.twitter.com/UP5g0Y03b3
— LPGA (@LPGA) August 11, 2024
When Lydia Ko of New Zealand, a two-time major winner, won Gold in Paris last week, it reflected how an Olympic Golf medal can mean a lot to a small country like hers. The performance of silver medalist, Esther Henseleit of Germany, a virtual unknown before this event, and Switzerland’s Morgan Metraux who held a share of the lead going into the final round, also showed how The Olympics could be life-changing for lesser known golfers.
Ko, 27, also wrote history by winning a medal in each of her three Olympic appearances, the only one to do so and a record that might just stand forever. She earned Gold in Paris to add to Bronze in Tokyo 2020 and Silver in Rio 2016. Her victory in the Olympics got her the final few points in an illustrious career to qualify her for the Women’s Golf Hall of Fame, making her the youngest inductee at just 27 years old, further underlining the value of an Olympic gold medal.
(4) Potential Introduction of a Mixed Team Event at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics
Riviera Country Club @LA28
2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games will host men’s and women’s golf competitions!
⛳️ x @OlympicGolf pic.twitter.com/NO12v9Vg7G
— USA GOLF (@USAGolf) July 12, 2024
Rumours are circulating that the International Golf Federation (IGF) is considering adding a mixed team event to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. This potential addition would increase the number of medals awarded in golf, further enhancing the sport’s prominence on the Olympic stage.
Antony Scanlon, Executive Director of the IGF, expressed strong support for this format. According to a report by Golf Monthly, he mentioned, “At the beginning of next year, they should decide which events will be included in the program for LA. We’re hopeful that, given there are no additional athletes or resources required, the mixed event will be approved, especially with the organizing committee’s backing.”
Scanlon also highlighted that top male and female professional golfers favour the concept. All golf events in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics are set to take place at the iconic Riviera Country Club, which annually hosts the PGA Tour’s Genesis Invitational.
The proposal envisions 16 pairs competing over 36 holes, with rounds of foursomes and four-ball better ball. Each country is expected to field one team to ensure broad representation. This should add the much needed team aspect to the Olympics which currently are pure individual events.
India will need to see its top professional players really make progress on the global tours in order to qualify as one of the top 16 national teams.
(5) India’s Need for a National Golf Course
Le Golf National served as the venue for the Olympic golf competitions
France’s showcasing Le Golf National, the venue for the men’s and women’s Olympic competitions, a course funded and built by the French Golf Federation’s annual member subscription, is a model that India could well emulate.
With India becoming an attractive destination for International Pro and Amateur tournaments, India’s current severe lack of world class golfing venues is hurting the exposure our players can get to world class competition. The Indian Open, despite its status as a US$2.25Million event on the European (DP World) Tour, faces uncertainty each year for a venue.
Even if It takes the IGU 5-10 years to develop a single new 18 hole course meeting international standards, it would be well worth it and this should be one of the Indian Golf Union’s major goals, as audacious as it may sound. The country needs several new international venues to be developed and the concept of a national course which can be a training centre for all National Level players and host many international professional and amateur events will be the sort of boost that can kick start the long awaited boom in Indian golf.
Will the IGU, any state government or State Golf Association, be willing to take up the challenge? The commercial and sporting benefits would be enormous.
Photo – Olympics