2024 Paris Olympics: Top 10 power rankings at Le Golf National
Bienvenue à Paris.
In America, that is Welcome to Paris, the host of the 2024 Olympic Games.
"I think at one time I would have considered the table tennis that we played elite,” said world number one Scottie Scheffler, when talking about the table tennis being played in the Ryder Cup team room. After getting the chance to see the world's best compete, he remarked, "[Now] I'm pretty sure it's far from it."
Luckily for Scheffler and the 59 other golfers competing this week, they will be swinging a golf club, not a paddle.
This is golf's third consecutive Olympic Games, following a 112-year break.
There is a palpable buzz regarding golf in the 2024 Paris Games; one that was not felt in the previous two. Golf in the Olympics should have a similar feel to a major championship (perhaps even more significance since it happens once every four years). However, when Justin Rose won gold in 2016 and Xander Schauffele in 2020, it flew a bit under the radar. Maybe that has to do with the general public not recognizing golf as a core Olympic sport, but whatever the reason may be, the intrigue is high the third time around.
The host course for this Olympics is the Albatros course at Le Golf National. Sound familiar? That is because it was not kind to the Americans, as Europe unleashed hell on their across-the-pond foes in the 2018 Ryder Cup, winning by a score of 17.5 to 10.5. It has also hosted the Open de France for many years.
Located 26 miles southwest of the Olympic Village, players will vie for gold at the renowned French venue. Known for its lush fairways, and putting surfaces, it will play as a par 71 and 7,174 yards for the men's competition.
Although located in Europe, the course is not 'linksy' in regards to its features; there is no gorse bush or thick wiregrass that was a staple of Royal Troon. It plays like a traditional American-style stadium venue, one that can be comparable to a course such as TPC Sawgrass. And like the iconic Florida course, water is the defining feature of Le Golf National: it is the main defense to all players and comes into play most notably on the opening and closing hole.
On that acclaimed closing hole, Sean Zak of Golf.com noted that Scottie Scheffler and Wyndham Clark pulled their tee shots into the water during a practice round. It will be interesting to see how aggressive players get in their quest for gold on Sunday.
In light of the recent downpours, Scottie Scheffler and various other players noted that the course was especially soft in their practice rounds. With marginal rain in the forecast for the weekend, the course should firm up for the final rounds. If it stays relatively soft, scores can be expected to be in the mid to high teens. Even at its firmest, Le Golf National should not present a grueling test like Pinehurst or Royal Troon offered.
The format is individual stroke play (to the vexation of both fans and players). In a nutshell, it is the same stroke play that is seen each week on the PGA Tour. However, there is no purse -- players are playing for the pride of their country, and representing their nations is the highest honor.
Le Golf National places a premium on approach play and driving accuracy, with an emphasis on the latter due to the tight fairways, thick rough, and looming water hazards. Players will be forced to steer and shape their way around the venue intuitively and creatively; they will not be able to "bomb and gouge."
Let's dive into this week's power rankings for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.
Honorable Mention: Tom Kim
A fiery yet incredibly charming soul, Tom Kim is right up there with Ludvig Åberg as the next face of golf. Coined a "global superstar" in Netflix's Full Swing, the 22-year-old already has three tour victories under his belt. Le Golf National is the ideal course fit for him due to his accuracy off the tee and excellent approach play. A T6 here in the 2023 Open de France proves that.