The Olympics could have made a big mistake with golf before the tournament even starts

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The Olympic golf event at Le Golf National gets underway on Thursday as some of the world’s elite players battle for a place on the podium.

Team USA are undoubtedly favourites, with Scottie Scheffler and Xander Schauffele in superb form ahead of the 72 holes in Paris.

The rest of the US team consists of Collin Morikawa and Wyndham Clark, although some fans are angry about Clark’s inclusion, given his poor PGA Tour form.

Elsewhere, Rory McIlroy is looking to bounce back from his Open Championship disappointment, and Rex Hoggard has claimed the Northern Irishman will land a medal.

Olympic golf format could have been changed

With a typical 72-hole stroke play event set to get underway on Thursday [August 1], the organisers could have missed a trick.

The PGA Tour and majors are four rounds – Thursday to Sunday—every week. And after the WGC Match Play was shelved in 2023, stroke play events now dominate the schedule.

The Olympics had the chance to do something different, with a match-play style format potentially coming into play. The event could have even been styled similar to the Ryder Cup, with nations going head-to-head.

Players would no doubt have preferred something different, given this will now feel like another regular tour event.

Golf needs to be more innovative to attract new fans

• READ MORE: Scottie Scheffler has made a claim about his putting ahead of the Olympic golf tournament

Typically, match-play-style events are more interesting to watch compared to the standard 72-hole format. There’s genuine risk involved for the world’s best players right from the outset.

With golf needing to grow and attract new fans, an entertaining Olympic event was an absolute must.

The Le Golf National competition could still be an engaging watch, but it does feel like an opportunity has been missed here.

Match-play events captivate audiences in a way that cannot be replicated. The ‘Miracle and Medinah’, ‘Battle of Brookline’ and ‘War by the Shore’ are Ryder Cups that have gone down in history largely due to the format.

Hopefully, for the 2028 Olympic games in Los Angeles, sense will prevail, and alterations to the current format will be made.