Olympic qualification system revealed

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International Golf Federation officials have confirmed the qualification system that will be used for golf’s return to Olympic Games at Rio 2016.

The announcement was made during a press conference at Royal Liverpool Golf Club, site of this week’s Open Championship, and follows ratification of the system by the Executive Board of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

As outlined by IGF President Peter Dawson, Vice President Ty Votaw and Executive Director Antony Scanlon, the following will apply:

In both the women’s and men’s events a field of 60 players will compete in a 72-hole stroke play format competition for the Gold, Silver and Bronze medals.

The 60 positions available in each event will be allocated through an Olympic Golf Ranking (OGR) list published on the IGF website, based on the player’s respective official world golf ranking as follows:

– Players within the top-15 on the respective women’s and men’s official world golf rankings as of 11 July 2016 will be eligible, except that there will be no more than four players from any one country eligible within the top-15.

– The balance of the field will be selected in order from 16th place onwards on the respective women’s and men’s official world golf rankings as of as of 11 July 2016, up to a maximum of 2 players per country for those countries not already having more than 2 players within the top-15.

A provision has been included for the host country, Brazil, which will guarantee that at least one Brazilian female and male golfer will compete in the Games if not otherwise eligible, based on position within the respective official world golf rankings.

Another provision has also been included that each of the five continents of the Olympic Movement (Africa, Americas, Asia, Europe and Oceania) will be guaranteed at least one athlete in each of the men’s and women’s events, if not otherwise eligible, based on position within the respective official world golf rankings.

These provisions will not increase the field size beyond 60 athletes in each of the women’s and men’s competitions.

The two-year qualification period for the Olympic Golf Ranking will run from 14 July 2014 to 11 July 2016. Throughout that time, an OGR list will be published each week using the current women’s and men’s official world golf rankings at internationalgolffederation.org (showing the mock field for the event as if played that week using the rankings system). The IGF will publish the final OGR list as of 11 July 2016 following the conclusion of all eligible events.

“This is an important milestone on the road to golf’s return to the Olympic Games in 2016,” Dawson said. “We are pleased to confirm the eligibility criteria and to give the athletes, National Olympic Committees and National Federations clarity on the qualification process. The world’s best players now know what they must achieve to be part of golf’s historic return to the Games in Rio de Janeiro.”

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