A Melting Pot of Accents and Cheers
Guyancourt, France — How many ways can you say ‘Rory’? Following the marquee players in Thursday’s opening Olympic round at Le Golf National, it felt like every accent and variation was on display. French, German, Spanish, Japanese, English, Irish, American – every cheer for Rory McIlroy, playing for Ireland, reflected the event’s diversity. ‘Allons-y!’ (‘Let’s go!’) chants filled the air, uniting fans from all corners of the globe.
A Global Atmosphere for a Unique Event
Flags of different nations waved, and cheers erupted for players from every country. ‘It’s just fun,’ said Australia’s Jason Day after his round. ‘Such a unique crowd, not like the typical American crowd that yells at every fairway. Every person has got support out there, which is fantastic.’ The atmosphere at Le Golf National is vibrant and joyous, making it a shame that the actual golf format feels mundane by comparison.
Current Format versus Potential Innovations
Despite some spectacular performances—like Hideki Matsuyama’s fiery -8 round and defending gold medalist Xander Schauffele’s continued excellence—the traditional four-day, 72-hole stroke play format seems like a missed opportunity. ‘It’s not all golf fans here; it’s Olympic fans or gold-medal fans,’ noted Sweden’s Alex Noren. The present format doesn’t seem to fully engage this unique audience.
Ideas for an Engaging Future
The call for a more exciting and inclusive format is growing. Joaquin Niemann of Chile suggested mixed-team events to foster national support. The International Golf Federation and IOC might consider these ideas, especially given the IOC’s history of welcoming innovative sports formats, like breaking and BMX racing. Changes like these could significantly boost the sport’s appeal, particularly looking ahead to the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028.
