Why Aren’t More LIV Golfers Playing at the Olympics?

“Am I frustrated, disappointed? Sure, you can absolutely say that.” Bryson DeChambeau had just won the U.S. Open—for the second time in his career—when these words came out of his mouth at the Pat McAfee show. “Nothing would mean more to me than putting on the red, white, and blue for Team USA at the Olympics,” the LIV Golf pro later captioned while retweeting the clip.

His road, and many others, were blocked by the Olympics’ established route to the field. For golf, that meant OWGR. The IOC decided that only the top two players from each country would participate. Four, if all of them are inside the top 15. Bryson DeChambeau was, but he was the sixth American player on that list.

Similarly, Tommy Fleetwood and Matt Fitzpatrick, who withdrew after the third round with a thumb injury, ranked above Tyrrell Hatton for Great Britain. Australia’s Cameron Smith ranked behind Min Woo Lee and Jason Day. DeChambeau’s teammate, Anirban Lahiri of India, missed his chance as Shubhankar Sharma and Gaganjeet Bhullar ranked above him in the Official World Golf Ranking.

Only five of LIV Golf’s top 25 qualified for the Olympics. However, even if LIV golfers received world ranking points on relatively equal terms as PGA Tour players, it would’ve been hard to accommodate all the top players into the field.

For Team USA, the task would’ve been more difficult, as at best only four players could’ve made it. And, in their sizzling hot form, it’s facile to argue against Scottie Scheffler or Xander Schauffele’s inclusion.

Interestingly, LIV Golf CEO Greg Norman hasn’t taken the same path with the IOC that he took with the major organizers, calling for direction exemption from LIV’s season-long standings. The Great White Shark, who was in Paris, offered his best wishes to the LIV contingent, ending with, “Bring home the medals boys!!”  At least one player is primed to do just that: Jon Rahm. Nevertheless, none of them are too happy with how the IOC’s criteria exclude a section of their colleagues.

What do Olympians think of LIV Golf pros’ exclusion? 

Jon Rahm didn’t hide his dissatisfaction with the IOC’s arbitrariness. The Spaniards wanted the respective nations to have the last word.  “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.” There is an obvious downside to that after what happened with the Dutch golfers.

But Rahm believed that the countries should have a selection process as it is for the USA basketball team. That, of course, doesn’t guarantee a spot for top players as well, as the Caitlin Clark saga showed. The Indiana Fever guard missed the mark at the Olympics training camp in Cleaveland, Ohio.

Nevertheless, it seems some sort of qualification will be more acceptable to LIV golfers than the OWGR benchmark. Carlos Ortiz and Abraham Ancer both sounded off on the IGF’s reliance on the OWGR, calling for more autonomy for the countries.

Xander Schauffele’s response to DeChambeau’s exclusion was more ambiguous. Whereas Rory McIlroy, even though he conceded that not all the best players are on the field, refused to cut any slack to LIV golfers. The Ulsterman believed they had made an informed decision. Shane Lowry, his Ireland teammate, was of a similar opinion.

Regardless, it’s a matter of debate and a hotly contested one at that. Whether it will be resolved by 2028 is anyone’s guess.