Golf at LA28: Olympic qualification has begun

Two years before the Olympic Games in Los Angeles, the starting signal has been given for the golf qualification. Since June 8, 2025, points in the Olympic Golf Ranking (OGR) count for the women for the first time. For the men, the qualification window begins on June 22. The clock is ticking - and with it an intense two-year competition for 120 starting places in one of the most traditional individual sports of the Olympic Games.

Riviera Country Club as the Olympic stage

The 2028 Olympic golf tournament will be held at the Riviera Country Club in Los Angeles – one of the most prestigious golf courses in the world, which most recently hosted the 81st U.S. Women's Open. The venue is considered a worthy setting for a sport that has been firmly anchored in the program again since its return at the 2016 Games in Rio de Janeiro after a 112-year absence from the Olympics.

Qualification over two years: the rolling window

The qualification system is based on a two-year rolling ranking window. As world rankings always take into account the results of the previous two years, qualification effectively begins with the first counting tournament after the official start date. For the women, the qualification phase ends on June 5, 2028, for the men on June 19, 2028.

The following already applies: those who perform strongly in the majors and in the final phase of qualifying have the best cards. The most recent results and the most prestigious tournaments are weighted higher in the ranking.

The qualification system in detail

60 women and 60 men will take part in the individual competitions in Los Angeles. The allocation of starting places follows a two-stage mechanism:

• Top 15 in the world rankings: Up to four athletes per country and gender qualify.
• From rank 16: Each nation can send a maximum of two athletes per gender.

In addition, it is ensured that all five Olympic continents - if necessary - are represented by continental qualifying places in both competitions. For the men, tournaments held by Tours that are part of the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) are recognized. For the women, results from tournaments on WWGR-recognized Tours count.

A historic first: the mixed team event

Probably the most significant innovation in the LA28 golf competitions is the introduction of a mixed team event. It is the first Olympic team tournament in golf since the sport returned to the Games in 2016. 16 nations will each compete with a mixed team of two - consisting of a woman and a man from the same country.

Prerequisite for participation: both athletes must have previously qualified for their respective individual competition. The 16 teams will be determined via the Olympic Mixed Team Ranking (OMTR), which evaluates countries based on the best-placed athlete - regardless of gender.

The competition calendar at LA28

The golf tournaments start less than a week after the opening ceremony of the Games:

The battle for the starting places: First names in the running

If the qualifiers were completed today, the starting places would be allocated as things stand - with a few prominent surprises. In the women's event, world number one Nelly Korda (USA), who won Olympic gold in Tokyo in 2021, leads the provisional ranking. Lauren Coughlin (USA, currently ranked 14th) would also be there, but Angel Yin (ranked 16th) is not yet. Established greats such as Lilia Vu, Allisen Corpuz and Jennifer Kupcho would also be outside the qualification zone as things stand.

In the men's event, defending champion Scottie Scheffler (USA, 1st place) is in the top position as expected. Cameron Young (3rd place), Russell Henley (5th place) and J.J. Spaun (9th place) would also qualify. Still outside the top 15: Collin Morikawa (10th) and Tokyo Olympic champion Xander Schauffele (12th) - both with a real chance of securing their places until 2028. The battle for the American starting places is expected to be particularly intense: Six US ladies are currently ranked in the top 32 of the world rankings.

Historical context: golf makes its Olympic comeback

Golf returned to the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro in 2016 after a 112-year absence. Since then, the tournaments have always produced high-ranking winners:

Outlook: Two years of setting the course

Qualifying for the Olympics in golf is a marathon, not a sprint. Points are collected over two years, ranking positions are defended and reassessed time and again. Those who consistently deliver on the big Tours and shine in the Majors have the best chances of securing one of the coveted starting places in Los Angeles.

However, LA28 is also a first for the golf world: the mixed team event will give the sport an Olympic team dimension for the first time - and thus a new stage on which nations can compete together. An experiment that the Olympic golf community will be following with excitement.