On August 1, 2024, Rory McIlroy of Ireland participated in the Men’s Round 1 of the Paris 2024 Olympics Golf event at Le Golf National in Guyancourt, France. Despite his intention to win, the 35-year-old golfer did not secure a place on the podium. Nevertheless, McIlroy spoke highly of the quadrennial event and even compared it to the Ryder Cup. Following his close loss at the prestigious tournament, many wonder if he will bounce back and compete in the Wyndham Championship.
According to the official field released by the PGA Tour, McIlroy, a four-time major champion, will not be participating in the Sedgefield Country Club’s event. Currently ranked third in the FedEx Cup standings, he is qualified to compete in the FedEx St. Jude Championship at TPC Southwind. It makes sense for McIlroy to take a week off before traveling to Tennessee.
In addition to the upcoming championship, McIlroy has plans to participate in the playoffs at TPC Southwind, followed by the BMW Championship and the finale at East Lake Golf Club. He hopes to improve upon his performance at Le Golf National and add to his win tally, with his most recent victory at the 2024 Wells Fargo Championship.
During the Paris event, McIlroy finished in fifth place, two strokes behind bronze medalist Hideki Matsuyama. He achieved an overall score of 15-under through four days of play, with 21 birdies, six bogeys, two double bogeys, and eagles each.
Despite the close call, McIlroy expressed his admiration for the men’s golfing event at the Olympics. He discussed the tournament with his playing partner, Nicolai Hojgaard, who claimed it was the best he had ever been involved in, even surpassing the Ryder Cup. McIlroy recognized the significance of the event given the current state of the golf world.
McIlroy also voiced his concerns about the current state of golf, referring to it as a “sh*t show.” He questioned the impact of the PGA Tour-PIF merger and the LIV Golf dilemma. He emphasized that the Ryder Cup and the Olympics have the potential to be the purest forms of competition in golf, as they are not solely driven by monetary incentives.
Despite his loss, McIlroy thoroughly enjoyed his time on the course in Paris. Judging by the performance of the 60-player field, it seems that fans would agree with McIlroy’s sentiment that every player had an amazing experience during the tournament.
Photo from Rory McIlroy Instagram
