Olympic qualification system announced

More than 100 of the world’s best golfers will compete for a place in history when the sport returns to the Olympics at the 2016 Games in Rio De Janeiro.

Among those taking part in the first Olympic Golf tournament since 1904 will be the top 15 male and female players in the Olympic Golf Rankings, a system based on the Official World Golf Rankings.

That is providing no more than three of their fellow countrymen have finished above them, as there will be a maximum of four male and four female athletes from any one country permitted in the field of 60 for each event.

Of those countries with less than three players in the top 15, a maximum of two will become eligible to play the 72-hole stroke-play competition around Rio’s newly completed championship courses.

The qualification system was announced by the International Golf Federation (IGF) in the run up to this week’s Open Championship at Royal Liverpool.

Host-nation Brazil are to be guaranteed at least one position per event, while each continent from the Olympic movement (Africa, Americas, Asia, Europe and Oceania) will also be represented by at least one male and one female golfer.

The qualification period, which is now already underway, will be completed on July 11, 2016, with a final list of players announced shortly afterwards.

Peter Dawson, IGF President, said: “This is an important milestone on the road to golf's return to the Olympic Games in 2016.

“We are pleased to confirm the eligibility criteria and to give the athletes, National Olympic Committees and National Federations clarity on the qualification process. The world's best players now know what they must achieve to be part of golf's historic return to the Games in Rio de Janeiro." 

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