Top 5 Male Golf Pros on the 2024 Olympic Field: Power Ranking and More Explored

On August 1, 60 golfers will compete for Olympic glory at Le Golf National. The field, despite LIV Golf’s outrage, boasts some of the best golfers in the world. Several have already landed in Paris, acclimatizing to the French weather. Although Scottie Scheffler seems the clear favorite, he will face tough challenges from his fellow countrymen and global competitors. In preparation for the Olympics, the men’s golf event begins on August 1. Here are our five picks.

Scotsman Scheffler

It’s been more than a month since Scottie Scheffler last won a tournament. By his standards, that seems like a year, but the Texas star has yet another top-10 finish at the rugged Royal Troon. Some reports suggest Scheffler has already arrived in Paris to prepare for a podium finish. Scheffler’s unraveling at the Open came with a three-putt on the par-4 9th. He never recovered.

Spotted a weakness? Don’t be too hasty. Scheffler has shown remarkable resilience in the past. Less than a month ago, the world No. 1 nearly lost his lead at the Memorial, but he eventually steadied his ship. At the 2024 Olympics, the two-time major winner is an overwhelming favorite, still holding the No. 1 position in multiple categories.

Xander Schauffele

Just a few months ago, Xander Schauffele said he was one of many who climbed a mountain while Scheffler stood proudly at the top. With the Open triumph, the two-time major winner has broken away from that pack. Aside from the T54 at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, Schauffele has never finished outside the top 25 this season.

And after his exploits at Royal Troon, it’s hard to deny that he’s currently the most versatile golfer on the PGA Tour and LIV Golf. The two-time major winner ranks 2nd in Strokes Gained (SG): Total, 2nd in Scoring Average, 5th in SG: Approach to Green, 11th in Reaching Greens in Regulation and 10th in SG: Putting. Schauffele can tackle any course he’s given, and Le Golf won’t be all that different.

Jon Rahm

Much has been made of Rahm’s absence from the majors. He was on fire early Sunday at Royal Troon, but three birdies early in the round were the only sparks in a lackluster showing from the two-time major winner. But Rahm has finished inside the top 10 in each of the LIV tournaments in which he has played 54 holes. The Spaniard leads the LIV golf field in reaching greens in regulation (73.41%). While he must beat two American giants for an Olympic gold medal, a finish outside the top five would certainly be disappointing.

Rory McIlroy

This will be Rory McIlroy’s second Olympic Games. Last time out in Tokyo, the Ulsterman tied for fourth in stroke play. In his last eight events, dating back to the Zurich Classics, McIlroy has finished in the top ten five times. At Le Golf National, the Northern Irishman’s most powerful weapon is his driver; he is second on the PGA Tour in strokes gained off the tee.

In his last 20 rounds, McIlroy has gained 2.05 strokes from tee to green. His distance from the box, combined with his accuracy above the field average, could prove to be a winning combination. The Open Championship is for some a fallout from the US Open scar, but the Ulsterman has been candid about being caught off guard by the gust of wind. He needn’t worry about that at Le Golf.

Collin Morikawa

The biggest revival we’ve seen is undoubtedly that of Collin Morikawa. In his last eight events, the two-time major winner has finished no worse than T16. The Las Vegas native has revived the outrageous iron play that won him two majors. Although he currently sits outside the top 30 in SG: approach to green, Morikawa has been No. 9 for the past 20 rounds. The chart has been trending upward since the Masters.

Morikawa isn’t one of the longest hitters on Tour, but his accuracy off the tee is third-best on Tour. He was the highest-ranked player in the field last time around, taking a T3. Six players are above the University of California-Berkeley alumnus this year. But a top-five finish at the Olympics wouldn’t be all that surprising.

While that includes the big five in Paris, keep an eye on Ludvig Aberg. The Swedish youngster impressed in his debut at a major, and showed no signs of being unfamiliar with the courses. Wyndham Clark is making his Olympic debut this year. But rather than being a favorite, the former US Open champion has to prove his worth. The men’s golf tournament begins on August 1 after a standard 72-hole stroke play. But there is no 36-hole cut, unlike PGA Tour events.