Sunday, December 22, 2024

Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry qualify to represent Ireland at Olympics

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Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry are poised to represent Ireland in the Paris Olympic Games this summer at the former Ryder Cup venue Le Golf National.

The qualifying period came to an end at the US Open at Pinehurst on Sunday, when McIlroy endured a devastating runner-up finish to Bryson DeChambeau after holding a two-shot lead with five holes to play.

The 60-player field features players representing 32 countries, with the US the only nation to have more than two qualifiers.

The world No 1, Scottie Scheffler, the defending champion Xander Schauffele, Wyndham Clark and Collin Morikawa will represent the US on 1-4 August.

The top 15 players in the world rankings were eligible for Paris, with a limit of four players per country. Countries without players in the top 15 can take a maximum of two. France, the host nation, was guaranteed at least one spot, with Matthieu Pavon and Victor Perez qualifying.

The former US Open champion Matt Fitzpatrick and Tommy Fleetwood qualified for Great Britain.

Players on the LIV tour are permitted to play but qualifying has been much harder as their events are not recognised as counting towards the official world rankings. This is why DeChambeau is missing; the LIV players Jon Rahm – the two-time major winner who had to miss the US Open with a foot injury – and David Puig are to represent Spain.

Each national Olympic committee will have until 27 June to officially confirm their athletes to the International Golf Federation.

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