Golf was both questioned and rejected when it returned to the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro eight years ago. Now it is loved by both players and the audience – and the competitions on the beautiful and decisive course south of Paris have been a success.
It's just a matter of looking around. How often do we play in front of 30,000 spectators? It almost never happens, says Maja Stark.
The road here has hardly been straight as a well-directed drive.
When golf made its Olympic comeback in 2016, after more than 100 years of absence, the interest from many top male players was moderate.
Many blamed the Zika virus. The truth was probably rather doubt about squeezing in another competition – and without prize money – right after a few majors. There were reasons to fear that Olympic golf would go the same way as men's Olympic football and become a B-tournament that few care about.
That didn't happen.
On the former Ryder Cup course Le Golf National, the starting fields have held the highest class.
Olympic Games 2028 on Riviera
It's been super fun with the Olympic Games, but I would have liked to see a team competition too, says Linn Grant.
It's a wish that can be fulfilled in Los Angeles in four years. At the classic Riviera Country Club, there are plans to add a mixed competition to the program, something that Golf Digest has previously reported on, among others.
Many compare the Olympic Games with the Ryder Cup and Solheim Cup, that it's something else. Then I really think it would have been fun to get in another format that really spices it up a bit. I think a team competition would have gotten positive feedback from both players and the audience, says Grant.
Maja Stark agrees:
It fits perfectly. In many other sports, like table tennis, you have all sorts of formats. Then you should have it in golf too. I think it would have been really cool and awesome.
Three strokes from a medal
Before Saturday's final round in Paris, Stark was 17th and Grant 24th.
Many at the top wavered when it was time to distribute the medals. Stark finished strong, with three birdies on the last five holes, and finished tied for 10th on –4 after a 70-round. Only three strokes separated her from Xiyu Lin, China, on the bronze spot.
Lydia Ko, New Zealand, won on –10 and has now taken a medal in three consecutive Olympic Games. This was her first gold. German Esther Henseleit was two strokes behind.
Linn Grant shared 27th place on +1.
