Why Tiger Woods Isn’t Competing in the 2024 Paris Olympics
Tiger Woods is arguably the best golf player to ever live, yet he has never gotten the chance at a gold medal. He has monumental achievements and is still playing the game, so why is he not at the Olympics? Tiger Woods has built a legacy that spans generations as one of the most successful professional golfers in history, but golf fans and experts might argue that his peak came in the early 2000s, when he won an incredible 13 major championships, and that his ability and performance has declined since then. Golf debuted for the first time in the Olympics in the early 1900s, but did not last long. This appeared again at the 2016 Rio Olympics and Tokyo 2020. Golf is due to return to the 2024 Paris Olympics, but there’s still no sign of Woods. Fans are wondering why this great athlete hasn’t had a chance to win a gold medal yet, but is it too late now? The Olympic selection criteria are not aligned with the world rankings in golf. Eligibility is clearly explained by the Olympic rules and the International Golf Federation (IGFgolf). See below:
“The top 15 players in the world rankings can participate in the Olympics, but only four from each country. In addition to the top 15 players, players will be eligible to enter the tournament based on their world rankings, with up to two eligible players from each country that does not already have two or more players in the top 15. ”
At the moment, the 48-year-old Woods is not even ranked in the top 100, but that is not because of his past dominance, but rather because his current performance cannot compete with the next generation of golf stars. Unfortunately for Woods, there are no exceptions to the rule, especially since the man is past his prime. If golf had been included in the last Olympic Games, there’s no doubt Woods would have played for the U.S. team. From 1997 to 2011, Tiger never finished lower than third in the world rankings, guaranteeing him a place in the Olympics every year. The 2012 London Olympics might have been his final chance, but golf wasn’t included, and by the time the 2016 Rio Olympics rolled around, Woods was injured and unable to qualify or play after back surgery. Woods returned to put in a promising performance in 2020, but the pandemic pushed the Olympics back to 2021 and injury cost him his chance again.
Golf legend Phil Mickelson is in the same situation. Despite their unparalleled competitive and success over the years, Mickelson has yet to qualify for the Olympics for similar reasons: age, injuries and opportunity have created many hurdles for them. Even in the years they were able to qualify, they were no longer at the elite level.
Golf will return to the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028. Some fans want Woods to return and receive a gold medal, but many have once again understand that his chance may have passed.
Madison Richman calls Kinsberg, Colorado. His parents, Justin and Shawnda, and his brother, Rylan, also feature. In the spring of 2024, she earned her associate degree in agricultural communications from Western Oklahoma State University. She plans to attend Tarleton State University in Stephenville, Texas to earn her bachelor’s and master’s degrees and compete on the rodeo team starting this fall. As a leaver, Madison is excited about all of the new opportunities that continue to be afforded women in the sport of rodeo. Richman, who also participates in barrel racing and team roping, is passionate about all things Western, and as an agricultural advocate, she plans to educate everyone about the importance of the industry. Looking to the future, Mady plans to pursue a career in journalism and marketing for the Western sports and agriculture industries while pursuing a professional career in rodeo.
