Olympics Fact Check: Has a LIV Golfer Ever Won Gold Medal?

Joaquin Niemann’s unexpected qualification for the 2024 Olympic Games has certainly caused a stir within the community, given LIV Golf’s situation with the Official World Golf Rankings (OWGR). Similar to major tournaments, the Olympics also factor into world rankings. As Niemann prepares to represent his country in July, let’s delve into whether any LIV golfers have previously secured Olympic victories.

The rumor about LIV Golf first emerged in January 2020, with speculation circulating that a potential rival golf league was engaging with players and agents behind the scenes. Initially known as the Premier Golf League, it eventually materialized as LIV Golf in 2021. Since then, some players have made the transition to the Saudi-backed league. As a result, key golfers such as Jon Rahm, Phil Mickelson, Bryson DeChambeau, and others are now pivotal figures within the league.

Surprisingly, none of them have secured Olympic gold thus far. However, a present-day LIV golfer, Henrik Stenson, represented his country in the 2016 Rio Olympic Games and eventually won the silver medal, falling short of gold. While PGA Tour pro, Xander Schauffele represented Team USA in 2020 and claimed the gold.

This year, it appears even more challenging for LIV golfers to vie for Olympic gold, given that the qualification criteria also rely on the OWGR. LIV golfers lack the opportunity to bolster the points in the world ranking, after a lot of back-and-forth tussling with OWGR authorities, Greg Norman withdrew the application. This not only impacts their chances in major tournaments but also restricts their participation in the Olympics. If that’s the case, how did Joaquin Niemann manage to qualify for the Olympics this year?

Joaquin Niemann’s surprising qualification for the 2024 Olympic Games

The Summer Olympics are scheduled to take place from July 26, 2024, to August 11, 2024, in Paris. While some LIV golfers, such as Bryson DeChambeau, were unable to earn a spot, Joaquin Niemann has already secured his place. But how did he manage this, considering he’s not even in the top 60 in the OWGR? The Olympics indeed consider the top 60 players from the world rankings. However, among those 60, the top 15 are automatically granted spots. For the remaining players, the Olympic Golf Rankings (OGR) come into play.

This system allows the top two eligible players per country to qualify, as long as that country does not already have at least two players in the top 15. This factor also takes into account strength-of-field ratings accumulated over two years. Considering that Niemann has delivered commendable performances, including his T22 finish at the Masters, and has also earned a special invitation to the PGA Championship, it’s reasonable to assume that these factors helped the Chilean pro secure a spot to represent his country.

While none of the LIV golfers have won gold so far, do you believe Niemann stands a chance of winning gold this time? Share your thoughts in the comments below.