Who said the stakes are not high at Le Golf National? Sure, Olympic golf doesn’t play like a traditional team sport. But Rory McIlroy has already channeled the team spirit. Neither is he leaving any chances to spark a good ol’ USA vs. Europe Ryder Cup banter.

The Albatross course at Le Golf National hosted the 2018 Ryder Cup, where team Europe thrashed the Americans 17½ to 10½. The layout was brutal; fairways were all but stripped to bare bones, and the rough was thick. In short, there was nothing that the Americans were accustomed to on the PGA Tour.

This was Phil Mickelson: “The fact is they had brutal rough, almost unplayable, and it’s not the way I play.”  No doubt, McIlroy still relishes it. In fact, he expects it will be as penalizing as the 2018 Ryder Cup.

“I don’t think it will play that much differently. It’s so pure. It’s in such great shape. But the rough is thick. It’s a pretty meaty setup,” Rory McIlroy said in the pre-Olympics press conference, seated beside Shane Lowry. Pressed further on the rough size, the Ulsterman joked, “Ask the Americans. I wasn’t in it much that week.” 

However, the rough won’t be as penalizing this week. The first and second cuts will make a comeback instead of a uniform rough, as  Le Golf National superintendent Lucas Pierre told Golf Digest.

Nevertheless, with the drumbeats for the 2025 Ryder Cup rolling in, McIlroy is aware that the Bethpage Black trip is less than 14 months away. He reminded a US fan of that week at the Old Course during a practice round. “New York loves you,” shouted one fan from outside the ropes. Hearing that, the four-time major winner couldn’t resist a little banter. “You’re not going to love us next year!”

The Ryder Cup rivalry is a bonus. With Jon Rahm and Abraham Ancer calling for a change in the qualification criteria, the LIV Golf – PGA Tour debate is already heated up. Above all, Olympic golf follows a stroke-play format. Like majors, the LIV golfers’ performance vis-à-vis PGA Tour pros will be closely watched.

LIV golfers issue a few suggestions to the IOC, Rory McIlroy somewhat agrees

Like majors, the Olympics also consider OWGR a yardstick for qualification. But unlike majors, the IOC doesn’t offer invites or special exemptions. So, the axe fell heavily on the reigning U.S. Open champion, Bryson DeChambeau’s shoulder. In addition, there is an argument to make about his teammate Anirban Lahiri’s exclusion from the Indian Golf contingent as well.

Considering all things, Jon Rahm suggested that countries should be given more freedom in sending golfers to the Olympics. Comparing the situation with USA Basketball, where the team has a greater say in finalizing the squad, the two-time major winner said, “I understand it’s a different circumstance, but I think you need to let each country choose who they want to play, and in the future.”

Abraham Ancer of Fireballs GC echoed, “It would be great if the countries can get to pick who they bring and just be like, hey, these are the guys that we believe have a chance to win a medal.” Rory McIlroy would see some merit in that argument, although, he might disagree with the solution.

The Ulsterman conceded that without all the best players on the field, the value gets a little diluted. However, McIlroy stopped short of providing a final suggestion to fix that error. Nevertheless, Le Golf National will definitely see two different battles playing out in real-time: the axiomatic battle for medals between nations and the more severe battle between the PGA Tour and LIV golf.