Golf
Olympics golf field is set – here are the notables who missed out!
The Olympics is only a matter of weeks away, and golfers from around the world will be vying to win an Olympic medal at Le Golf National in Paris.
While the field is stacked full of talent, some big names have unfortunately missed out on the chance to represent their nations.
With the qualification window closing just after Bryson DeChambeau‘s dramatic US Open victory, eight of the current top ten will be in attendance, but sadly for the LIV golfer, he won’t be on the plane.
The selection process was determined by world ranking, with each nation being able to send two players.
For golf-rich nations, however, four spots were possible to fill, allowing all four lay within the top 15 in the world rankings.
The tournament will feature 60 players representing 32 nations.
But who missed out?
Let’s find out.
1. Bryson DeChambeau
Much to the dismay of golf fans worldwide, the recent two-time US Open champion will not attend Le Golf National.
The big-hitting LIV Golf star currently sits 10th in the official world golf rankings, but with five Americans sitting lower than him, he never really stood a chance due to the lack of OWGR points available to LIV players.
DeChambeau will be sorely missed in Paris, and he himself was devastated not to qualify, having missed the games in Tokyo due to contracting COVID-19.
Patrick Cantlay
2. Patrick Cantlay
Potentially the most unlucky golfer to miss out on selection, Cantlay was sat one spot outside USA’s team threshold when qualification ended.
Following an impressive outing at Pinehurst No.2, Cantlay’s OWGR position only improved to eight, with Collin Morikawa pipping him by one spot.
Brooks Koepka
3. Brooks Koepka
Despite his US PGA victory last year, Koepka’s low position of 43rd in the world meant he never had a chance due to the strength of American golfers.
Koepka had also formally asked the International Golf Federation to be dropped from consideration.
Cameron Smith
4. Cameron Smith
Turn the clock back two years, and Smith would have been the first name on the team sheet for Australia following his Open Championship victory.
Sadly, having moved to LIV, Smith has been unable to accumulate the OWGR points needed to break into the team.
The Aussie hero required some good finishes at the three majors this year and got off to a hot start with a T6 at The Masters. Unfortunately, though, a T62 at the US PGA and T32 at the US Open weren’t good enough to qualify.
Tyrrell Hatton
5. Tyrrell Hatton
Much like his fellow LIV Golf partner Brooks Koepka, Tyrrell Hatton also requested not to be considered for Great Britain’s Ryder Cup team.
Instead, Team GB will be sending Matt Fitzpatrick and Tommy Fleetwood to Paris.
Sergio Garcia
6. Sergio Garcia
With Jon Rahm and David Puig making the Spanish team, there was no room for Garcia, one of Spain’s greatest golfing icons.
Since moving to LIV, Garcia’s world ranking has plummeted and he currently sits 310th in the world.
Not even a T10 at the US Open was going to be able to salvage Sergio’s chances.
Sungjae Im
7. Sungjae Im
Having had mixed form this year, Sungjae Im was reliant on a good finish at the US Open in order to lead frog Tom Kim and Ben An into the South Korean team.
Arriving at Pinehurst No.2 off the back of three top-ten finishes in four weeks, he must have liked his chances.
Unfortunately, Im missed the cut and with that his chances of overtaking Kim and An vanished into thin air.
Justin Rose
8. Justin Rose
A former Olympic gold medal winner, Justin Rose would have undoubtedly relished the chance to double his tally in Paris.
Unfortunately, with both Fleetwood and Fitzpatrick holding considerably lower world rankings, it wasn’t to be for Rose this year, and he won’t be returning to Le Golf National, where he played an instrumental role in Europe’s 2028 Ryder Cup win.
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