Two massive golfing stars that will make their Olympics debuts this year

Golf was reintroduced to the Summer Olympic Games in 2016 after an absence of more than 100 years and its most intense competition yet is set to arrive in Paris in 2024.

The sport was featured in Paris 1900 and St Louis 1904 but since then and 2016, the world’s leading golfers were deprived of the opportunity to prove themselves on the Olympics stage.

Since the return of the men’s competition, Team GB’s Justin Rose won gold in 2016 and Xander Schauffele won gold for the United States in 2010, although they did not quite face fierce competition to emerge as champions.

In Paris this year though, the event should be more competitive than ever as the world number one will be targeting a victorious Olympic Games debut, and a host of other first-timers will hope to make a strong first impression on the highest sporting platform.

Here we will look at the two biggest names in men’s golf that will make their first steps into Olympics golf this summer.

Scottie Scheffler

Scottie Scheffler is heading into a summer of huge expectations in the golfing world. In the Open golf odds, he is a 4/1 favorite to become a double 2024 major winner, and in a golf bet on the Olympics, he is an even stronger favorite at odds of 3/1.

In the latter, he will be making his debut, which will be the biggest golfing story ahead of the Olympic Games. Scheffler did not qualify for Tokyo 2020 as he was not among the top 60 world-ranked players, however in the years since he has established himself as the best player in the world.

For the United States of America!

🇺🇸 Scottie Scheffler
🇺🇸 @XSchauffele
🇺🇸 @Wyndham_Clark
🇺🇸 @Collin_Morikawa#OlympicGolf | @TeamUSA pic.twitter.com/xqjCu74Dhb

— Olympic Golf (@OlympicGolf) June 18, 2024

To go from not featuring at an Olympics event to being thoroughly expected to earn Gold in the subsequent competition is unprecedented in golf’s brief history at the games, and it shows how remarkable Scheffler’s rise to world number one has been.

Scheffler will dominate the headlines before the proceedings get underway, although some other debutants will be targeting medals in August.

Jon Rahm at LIV Golf Nashville. (Photo by Chris Trotman/LIV Golf)

Jon Rahm

Jon Rahm is an example of a former world number one who will make his first strides into the Olympics in Paris in 2024. The 2023 US Masters winner is predicted to be amongst the frontrunners in France, offered at 16/1 to win gold.

Any sort of podium finish would represent a success for the Spaniard although considering his ambition and the heights he has reached in his career, he will certainly be targeting a gold-placed finish on his opening Olympics outing.

Team Win 🏆🏆🏆

Nashville – you were amazing! Thanks to all the fans and volunteers who supported us.

And special congrats to @TyrrellHatton on taking home the individual title. Just the beginning of a big future!

Onto Spain next – Vamosssss!! 🇪🇸 pic.twitter.com/msKTl8jiOY

— Jon Rahm Rodriguez (@JonRahmOfficial) June 25, 2024

Rahm has won two major championships in his career and securing an Olympic medal would certainly not top those achievements, but it would be a rare feat that he may never get the chance to attempt again.

Ultimately, this year’s golf event at the Olympics should feature a greater array of talent than it ever has. The core of top-level players who participated in 2016 and 2020 are set to be joined by a duo of debutants who are no other than a current and former world number one.