The continuing saga of Joost Luiten and his bid to play in the Paris Olympics in two weeks took yet another bizarre turn.
Luiten, a 38-year-old Dutchman who was denied a spot by the Netherlands Olympic Committee despite having met the qualifying criteria, was added to the alternate list by the International Golf Federation. In a statement, the IGF said it “recognizes an error was made” by the Dutch committee in denying Luiten, a six-time winner on the European Tour, a position for which he had qualified when his home nation determined that he and two of the three other Netherlands qualifiers did not stand a reasonable chance of finishing among the top eight.
Though Luiten won an appeal in a Dutch court, his place in the 60-man field was filled, and the list was affirmed by the International Olympic Committee. The IGF appealed on his behalf.
Antony Scanlan, the IGF’s executive director, said his appeal to the IOC to expand the field by one, to 61, to accommodate Luiten was denied.
“It is all bullshit, and they all hide behind each other,” Luiten said to Handicap 54, an Argentine golf website. “I have done nothing wrong. Because of the mistakes and decisions of others, I am the one who is getting shafted.”
The administrative victory by Luiten does not grant him a spot for the August 1-4 tournament at Le Golf National in Guyancourt, west of Paris. He would need for a player who was ranked below him to withdraw. READ MORE
The 60-player fields were finalized for the men’s and women’s Olympic golf tournaments, which will be played in consecutive weeks at Le Golf National in Guyancourt, west of Paris, the International Golf Federation announced. The United States is the only country with more than two players in each tournament: Scottie Scheffler, Xander Schauffele, Wyndham Clark and Collin Morikawa for the August 1-4 men’s event and Nelly Korda, Lilia Vu and Rose Zhang in the August 7-10 women’s event. READ MORE
Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades, California, which hosts the PGA Tour’s annual Genesis Invitational, will be the site of men’s and women’s golf at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, organizers announced. READ MORE
Aaron M. Sprecher, Getty Images
TAP-INS
The top three Americans in the Women’s World Amateur Golf Ranking as of July 10 earned spots on the U.S. Curtis Cup team, the USGA announced. Zoe Campos, 21, of Valencia, Calif.; Catherine Park, 19, of Irvine, Calif.; and Jasmine Koo, 18, of Cerritos, Calif.; will compete for the Americans in the biennial matches against Great Britain and Ireland’s top female amateurs on August 30-September 1 at Sunningdale Golf Club in England. Winners of next month’s U.S. Women’s Amateur and the McCormack Medal (if American), which goes to the No. 1 player in the Women’s World Amateur Golf Ranking, will earn automatic spots, and five more selections will round out the team. READ MORE
The dissolution of a California junior tour associated with Bryson DeChambeau has led to finger-pointing and allegations of lies and extortion between the recent U.S. Open champion and his former coach, Mike Schy, Golfweek’s Adam Schupak reported. READ MORE
The University of Alabama filed an opposition to a trademark application from LIV Golf’s 4 Aces team, contending that the logo is “visually similar” to the school’s iconic script “A.” READ MORE
Construction at High Grove, a 1,200-acre private club in the remote south-central Florida town of Venus, with 36 holes to be designed by Gil Hanse and Jim Wagner, is expected to begin in November. The opening is expected in late 2025. READ MORE
The International Golf Federation has formed a strategic partnership with TMRW Sports designed to use technology to increase participation in golf. READ MORE
Debbie Richards will become president of England Golf, the organization announced. READ MORE
Compiled by Steve Harmon