Olympic Golf makes a splash on day one in Paris

On the outskirts of Versailles, Olympic golf made a strong impression on its first day of competition at Le Golf National, drawing large crowds and setting a vibrant tone for the event.

The return of golf to the Olympics proved to be a significant moment, especially after the disruptions of the 2016 Rio Games, which were marred by the Zika virus, and the Covid restrictions that affected Tokyo 2020. The enthusiasm at Paris 2024 was a welcome change.

Shane Lowry was initially thrown off by the scale of the crowd, mis-hitting his opening tee shot. Rory McIlroy also expressed his surprise at the turnout. “Unbelievable,” McIlroy said. “With so many events spread across the city, for people to come out here and watch us play … it was a really cool atmosphere. I thought it might be quieter in the first few days, but it was awesome.”

McIlroy contrasted the lively atmosphere with the “ghost town” feel of Tokyo. Jason Day, who missed Rio but is making his Olympic debut in Paris, admitted to feeling nervous at the first tee. “The first couple of holes caught me off-guard,” he said. “We’re not playing for money this week. We are playing for a medal, and it feels totally different. It’s the most nervous I’ve felt standing on a tee box, but it’s a good feeling because it shows that it means a lot to me.”

Day’s comments reflect the deep significance and renewed enthusiasm for Olympic golf, marking a successful start for the sport in Paris.