One of the big goals for the upcoming year that is about to start is Paris 2024: the Olympic Games. There are countries where it is more defined which player or players will be at the big event at the French Golf National, but in Spain the battle is expected to be fierce, especially in the men’s division.
Despite his move to LIV Golf, and the fact that until proven otherwise he will not earn world ranking points in the coming months, beyond the Majors, it seems that Jon Rahm has a guaranteed place in the Games. He has already earned many points and those coming behind would have to sign seven months of extraordinary level to surpass him. Remember that Rahm has always said that the Games and representing Spain is one of his big goals. Let’s not forget that he couldn’t do it in Tokyo because of Covid and he has that thorn stuck.
Really, the big fight in Spain will be for the second place. Right now, according to the official ranking, it is Pablo Larrazábal who would go to the Paris Games, however, in the projected one that Nosferatu, world ranking social media expert, prepares each week, the place, when the time comes, will correspond to Jorge Campillo. Be that as it may, the reality is that there is immense equality between Larrazábal, Otaegui and Campillo. The three are separated by few points and will play it out in the next six months. It’s going to be a real Olympic battle.
The three favourites are them, but we must not lose sight of those coming from behind. Right now, the three who are trailing, somewhat distanced, but still with a margin, are Adri Arnaus, David Puig and Alejandro del Rey. Against Puig plays the fact of being in LIV, in tournaments that do not count in the world ranking, but if he continues to combine the Saudi league with other Asian Tour tournaments, we should not rule him out of the equation. It will be a beautiful fight.
Among the girls, it is a little more defined right now. Carlota Ciganda has her place assured and there will be no one to move her from there unless something strange happens. The second place is currently for Azahara Muñoz. Despite having played very little in the last two years, she remains well placed there and, in addition, she will now compete regularly again, so it will be difficult for someone to assault her position. Even so, Ana Peláez, who has obtained the LPGA Tour card, is not far from Azahara and behind also come Nuria Iturrioz and Carmen Alonso. Right now no other one enters. They would have to earn many points in the coming months.
Let’s remember what the qualification criteria for the Olympic Games are, valid for men and women:
– The first 15 in the world ranking get in with a maximum of four per country. This mainly affects the United States among the boys. Right now there are eight Americans in the top 15.
– From 16 onwards they qualify with a maximum of two per country.
– A total of 60 players participate. The host country has a reserved place, although in this case it will not be necessary to execute it, as France puts two players in the male and female category.
– All continents have to be represented. In the case of golf there is no need to force anything, as it happens naturally by the ranking.
– The tournament is played over four days without a cut.
– The qualification period closes on June 17 for men and June 24 for women.
– July 8 is the last day for national Olympic committees to register players who have a chance to qualify.
Campillo would be qualified right now in the projected because the results, the older they are, lose value. In this way, as the Games approach, Larrazábal’s victories in Korea and Holland count less, although obviously this would change depending on what happens in the coming months. Everything is yet to be decided.
The classification is for a period of two years. The last thirteen weeks count the points added in full and from there and backwards the points are devalued by 1.1 percent until completing the 104 weeks (52 per year).
A curiosity about LIV Golf: right now a total of nine players are classified by the official ranking: Rahm, Smith, Niemann, Burmester, Pereira, Ancer, Pieters, Lahiri and Sebastián Muñoz. Well, in the projected this list would already be reduced to five. Smith falls out, who would be surpassed by Min Woo Lee, Pieters, Lahiri and Muñoz.
