Tokyo 2020 Olympic champion Xander Schauffele and world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler will lead the U.S. Men’s Olympic Golf Team competing at the Olympic Games Paris 2024.
Two-time major champion Collin Morikawa and 2023 U.S. Open winner Wyndham Clark will round out the foursome representing USA Golf at the four-round, individual stroke-play Olympic tournament, Aug. 1-4. Professional golf’s premier shot makers will be chasing birdies and Olympic medals at Golf National, located about 25 miles southwest of the French capital.
Sixty male golfers secured their Olympic spots following a two-year qualification process and based upon the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR), all finalized after the U.S. Open in Pinehurst, North Carolina, on Sunday, June 16.
Schauffele triumphed at the PGA Championship in Louisville, Kentucky, on May 20, attaining an elusive first major tournament title. The 30-year-old San Diego golfer will be seeking to defend his Olympic gold medal that he won at the Kasumigaseki Country Club just outside of Tokyo, on Aug. 1, 2021.
“It’s super special – it’s always an honor to represent your country in any given tournament or event, so it was really cool to share this with my family, the history and what the Olympics mean to my Dad, after winning the gold medal,” Schauffele said, asked to reflect upon Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 and his upcoming return to the Games.
“Qualifying was my first goal this year – it’s a very hard team to qualify for on this U.S. side. That was a really big goal of mine and now I’m really looking forward to competing again.”
Schauffele is currently the world No. 3 player, ranked only behind his Olympic teammate Scheffler and four-time major champion Rory McIlroy. He says he is excited to embrace the Olympic spirit in Paris, especially considering the COVID-19 related restrictions imposed three years ago in Japan.
“I think the fans will be awesome and playing in France will be very cool – and we weren’t allowed to go see other events (in Tokyo). I’ve already talked to Wyndham, Scottie and Collin, maybe buddying up and going to watch some other sports,” he said, while informing that track and field is high on the list.
Scheffler is the hottest golfer on the planet, attaining victories in five of his previous nine tournaments, including the prestigious Masters Tournament and Players Championship.
The 27-year-old Dallas resident said he is thrilled to represent the stars and stripes on foreign soil and like Schauffele, enjoy all that the Olympic Games have to offer.
“Playing for your country is always extremely exciting and it will be pretty surreal doing it on the Olympic stage,” Scheffler said. “It’s also good bragging rights for people that tell me golf is not a sport – I can say it’s an Olympic sport,” he says, with a laugh.
“I’m just excited to go there and experience the Olympics, see some other sports, go to the Village, see other athletes and just be part of it all. It should be a fun, special week.”
Source link : https://www.teamusa.com/news/2024/june/20/u-s-golfers-xander-schauffele-scottie-scheffler-wyndham-clark-and-collin-morikawa-to-tee-off-in-paris
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Publish date : 2024-06-20 03:00:00
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