This Sunday, at the end of the US Open at Pinehurst, the men’s golf qualification period for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games will end and we will know the names of the two players who will represent our country. Well, one is already clear. It is Jon Rahm, who is qualified no matter what happens this week due to his points in the world ranking.
The other spot is up in the air and will be decided in just three days. As we have been telling you in Ten Golf in recent weeks, according to the world ranking, we had four players in this race: Jorge Campillo, who currently occupies the second spot, David Puig, Eugenio López Chacarra and Sergio García. These three are the ones who have mathematical options to surpass the Extremaduran depending on their result in the US Open.
Well, Sergio García has dropped out of this race. The players had a deadline to submit to the Royal Spanish Golf Federation the relevant documentation to be included in the list of candidates to participate in the Games. The Federation contacted all the golfers to request the documentation, but Sergio, by his own decision, has not sent it, so he is not on the list and, therefore, no matter what happens in the US Open, he will not be able to participate in the Games.
Sergio, who obtained the Olympic diploma in his only participation in Rio de Janeiro 2016, did not send the documentation because the Games were far from his reach. He felt that he had hardly any chances of qualifying and his efforts have been focused on other moments of the season, such as the qualification for the Majors. It should also be remembered that the Borriol player did not enter the US Open until the last minute, as he had been left as a reserve player. However, now it happens that mathematically he has options to enter the Games, but he will no longer be able to do so as he is not registered. In fact, he has started very well in Pinehurst and could surpass Campillo in the world ranking if he finished, at least, third alone. The challenge is great and not easy, but he has started well, although there are still 54 holes ahead.
So, in this final sprint to play in Paris, there are only two Spaniards left with mathematical options to oust Campillo. One is David Puig, who needs to make the cut and started with a card of 76 strokes on Thursday. Today he will have to play very well to pass the cut. He plays in the afternoon and has the double challenge, to play the four days in Pinehurst and to qualify for the Games. Making the cut, even if he finishes in the last position, would be enough.
The other one who has options and is on the list is Chacarra. The Madrid player also has it difficult, as he is not doing well in Pinehurst. He needs to finish at least third tied with two other players at most and right now, at the time of writing this news, he is at a total of +6, playing the tenth hole of his round. He is obliged to sign eight very good final holes and then finish with a great weekend.
