LIV golfer Cam Smith has expressed his desire to earn a spot in the upcoming Paris Olympics. Scheduled for later this year, the 2024 Olympics allow only two players from each country placed highest in the Official World Golf Rankings (OWGR) to participate.
In the event that a nation possesses four players ranked within the top 15 in the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR), all four players hailing from that country will participate in the tournament. Smith, who is a member of the LIV Golf tour, faces difficulties in his world ranking as players in this tour do not earn ranking points.
During a recent interview with the media, Smith openly conveyed his strong aspiration to compete in the Paris Olympics. The Australian golfer acknowledged his intense desire to secure a spot on the team and proudly represent his country in this prestigious international tournament.
Speaking about the Olympics, Cam Smith said (via The Print):
“It’s desperately a place that I want to get to and represent Australia. I have to play well to get there, I know I have to play well, and I’m probably only going to get three or four shots at it before they make the selection. I guess it is more pressure.”
At present, Smith is ranked lower than four Australian players in the OWGR. In order to secure a place in the Olympics, the previous Open Championship winner must excel in the Majors and accumulate ranking points. The commencement of the first Major of the year is set for April 11.
He also discussed the Masters and Augusta National Golf Course, saying:
“It’s just such a cool place … I desperately want to get it and it would be awesome if I did. We’ve just had three weeks off and I’ve been out on the course focusing on shot-shaping and controlling flight, which I think is pretty crucial for playing good around there.”
Keep in mind that Cam Smith was ranked third in the world before joining LIV Golf, but his ranking has dropped significantly over the past two years, now placing him at 62nd globally. Australian golfers Jason Day, Min Woo Lee, Adam Scott, and Cameron Davis are all ranked higher than Smith in the OWGR. However, there are reports that Scott has pulled out of the Olympics, giving Smith a better chance of qualifying if he does well in the Majors.
LIV golfers are not awarded ranking points for participating in the Saudi circuit events. Nevertheless, they have the opportunity to earn points by taking part in Asian Tour events or Majors, provided they meet the eligibility criteria, which can help boost their world rankings.
LIV golfers Brooks Koepka and Tyrrell Hatton withdraw from Paris Olympics 2024
Representing their countries at the Olympics has always been a dream for athletes, but it seems that golfers Brooks Koepka and Tyrrell Hatton have decided not to participate in the Games, as reported by ElPeriodiGolf. The reasons behind their withdrawal remain unknown at this time.
Furthermore, according to the report from the outlet mentioned earlier, Adam Scott, Marcel Siem, Louis Oosthuizen, and Thomas Detry have all opted out of participating in the Olympics.
In contrast, Scottie Scheffler has successfully qualified for the Olympics.
🚨BREAKING
After his win at #THEPLAYERS Scottie Scheffler becomes the first US player who is mathematically guaranteed a place in #TeamUSA at the #Paris2024 Olympics! 🇺🇸 #OlympicGolf pic.twitter.com/WdexYZwqe6
— Nosferatu (@VC606) March 22, 2024
Nosferatu’s recent update on X (previously known as Twitter) confirms that Scheffler is set to secure his position in the American team for the Olympics in June 2024 by maintaining his current ranking.
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