The International Golf Federation and the International Olympic Committee announced on Wednesday in Lausanne, Switzerland, that they have adjusted the qualifying system for the Tokyo Olympic Games.
The 2020 Tokyo Games were scheduled to start with Opening Ceremonies on July 24, but last month were postponed until July 23-Aug. 8, 2021, because of concerns surrounding the Coronavirus pandemic.
“Having received from the IOC confirmation of the dates for when the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games will be held and the qualification principles, the fairest and most equitable way to determine the qualifying athletes was to align the previous qualification system with these new dates,” said Antony Scanlon, IGF Executive Director.
“We are pleased that the IOC swiftly approved these changes to provide clarity on this important area. The IGF will continue to work closely with the IOC and Tokyo 2020 to address the other areas that the postponement of the Games affects our sport and our athletes, to develop the necessary plans to resolve these. We remain fully committed to providing safe and fair golf competitions and a memorable experience for our athletes when these Olympic Games are held in 2021.”
Under the new system, golfers will accumulate Olympic Golf Rankings points through a period ending on June 21, 2021, for the men and June 28, 2021, for the women. The qualifying period began July 1, 2018, and before the postponement, was to end this June.
The field for both men and women will consist of 60 players.
Olympic Golf Rankings are based on the Official World Golf Ranking for men and the Women’s World Golf Rankings. On March 20, the rankings were suspended because of the Coronavirus pandemic.
An announcement about the resumption of the rankings will come when play resumes.
In the event of ties at any of the 60 starting positions, the ties will be broken by the following criteria, in order:
–Total Official World Golf Ranking points earned in the most recent 52-week period, ending with the Olympic Golf Ranking as of June 21, 2021, for the men and June 28, 2021, for the women.
–Total Official World Golf Ranking points earned in the most recent 13-week period, ending with the Olympic Golf Ranking as of June 21, 2021, for the men and June 28, 2021, for the women.
The top 15 players in the rankings at the end of the qualifying period will be eligible for the Olympics, with a limit of four players from a given country.
Beyond the top 15, players will be eligible based on the world rankings, with a maximum of two eligible players from each country that does not already have two or more players among the top-15.
Japan, as host country, will be guaranteed a spot, as will each of the five continental regions.
Under the current men’s rankings, the United States would be represented by Brooks Koepka, Justin Thomas and Dustin Johnson, who are ranked Nos. 3-5, while Patrick Reed is in a tie with Patrick Cantlay at No. 8.
Beyond that, Webb Simpson is No. 9, Tiger Woods is No. 11, Xander Schauffele is No. 12 and Bryson DeChambeau is No. 12.
In the women’s rankings, the Americans are led by Nelly Korda at No. 2, Danielle Kang at No. 4 and Lexi Thompson at No. 9. Currently on the outside looking in are No. 16 Jessica Korda and No. 19 Lizette Salas.
