Rory: Olympics has potential to match Ryder Cup

Emily Kaplan, journalist at ESPN, posted a blog on August 4, 2024, at 6:25 PM.

SAINT-QUENTIN-EN-YVELINES, France -- Rory McIlroy stated that the Ryder Cup is the top competition in golf. However, after an exciting last day of the men's Olympic tournament, where many of the sport's top players competed for the lead, he believes the Olympics could also be a major event in the sport.

McIlroy expressed that golf greatly benefits from being included in the Olympics and described his experience at Le Golf National as one of the most exciting individual competitions he has ever participated in.

McIlroy expressed his frustration with the current state of golf, emphasizing the importance of tournaments focused on the pure spirit of competition rather than monetary rewards. His remarks came following a fifth-place finish representing Ireland, highlighting the significance of such events in upholding the true values of sportsmanship.

McIlroy has been very vocal in his opposition to the LIV Golf League, which caused a lot of controversy by recruiting PGA Tour players in 2022. Seven LIV players participated in the Olympics, including Spain's Jon Rahm. Unfortunately, Rahm struggled in the final nine holes and fell out of the running for a medal on Sunday.

However, McIlroy, who is 35 years old, stated that the excitement at the Olympics focused solely on the sport. Golf made its comeback at the 2016 Rio Games after being absent for 112 years. However, the excitement for the 2021 Tokyo Games was dampened as many top players decided not to participate due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The lineup for the 2024 Paris event was stacked with talented players. On the last day of competition, Rahm, Xander Schauffele, Tommy Fleetwood, Hideki Matsuyama, Scottie Scheffler, Tom Kim, and McIlroy were all fighting for the top spot. In the end, it was Scheffler who emerged victorious with an impressive final round score of 62. Fleetwood settled for the silver medal, just one stroke behind. French golfer Victor Perez made a significant impact on the final day, shooting a remarkable score of minus-8 to jump into contention. Despite his strong performance, Perez ultimately fell just short of reaching the podium.

"Watching Victor Perez come up the 18th hole with the French crowd cheering was a memorable moment for me," McIlroy shared. "The atmosphere at the French Open was like nothing else we experience on tour, except maybe at the Ryder Cup. I truly enjoyed playing in such a lively and captivating environment."

The professional golfer, who has won four major tournaments, stated that he thinks a standard 72-hole competition is the most effective way to crown a champion, but he is also willing to consider the idea of making the Olympics bigger.

"If they were interested in organizing a two-day team competition and competing for six days straight, I would fully support that idea," expressed McIlroy.

This past Sunday, McIlroy made five birdies in his last nine holes before his wedge shot landed in the water on the 15th hole. He believes that mistake may have cost him a win.

"I have been playing golf at a high level for the past three years, and I am eager for things to change so I can start winning tournaments again," stated McIlroy. "It's easy to keep saying 'I'm close, I'm close, I'm close,' but true satisfaction will come when I start turning those near misses into victories."

McIlroy explained that this was the first time he truly experienced the Olympic spirit, as the strict COVID-19 regulations in Tokyo made it feel like a true Olympic event.

He said that his top pick event is equestrian dressage because he is impressed by how skillfully the horses perform. McIlroy shared that he recently attended a tennis match at Roland Garros and plans to stay in Paris for a while to fully enjoy the Olympic atmosphere. He also mentioned his interest in watching track and field events and gymnastics.

The Olympics brought increased pressure for athletes competing for their nations. Kim, who is 22 years old, showed strong emotions after the tournament on Sunday, crying at times while speaking to reporters. If Kim had won an Olympic medal, he would have been excused from having to serve in the military.

He came in eighth place, four shots behind the third-place winner after shooting a 68 in the last round. Kim chose not to give any comments on the matter - just like he had done all week. However, he mentioned that the Olympics meant a lot to him.

"This week has been amazing for me, I was really determined to win for my country," Kim mentioned. "Participating in the Olympics is special. You don't often have the chance to compete for your country, as it only happens every four years. By the time the next Olympics comes around, I'll be much older, so I didn't want to miss this chance."