Tag: Summer Olympics

Inbee Park won’t play on LPGA in 2024 as her focus turns to Olympic elections

Park last teed it up on the LPGA in August of 2022 at the AIG Women’s British Open.

As the LPGA returns to action this week in Thailand, one past champion is notably absent. Inbee Park, who last teed it up on the LPGA in August of 2022 at the AIG Women’s British Open, has no plans to compete this year either, according to her manager.

Park, 35, gave birth to her first child, daughter Inseo, in April 2023.

The 21-time winner was announced as one of 32 candidates for the IOC’s Athlete’s Commission. Park, of course, won gold at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. She plans to focus on promoting herself for the upcoming elections in the coming months.

Olympic athletes will be eligible to vote in the Olympic Village in Paris this summer. Four athletes from four different sports will be elected by their peers. Should Park be successful, she will serve an eight-year term.

Park won the 2013 Honda LPGA Thailand, kicking off a season in which she won three majors. The seven-time major winner qualified for the LPGA Hall of Fame in 2016.

[lawrence-auto-related count=4 category=1373]

J. Lindeberg to be official clothing partner of USA men and women at Summer Games

The collection is set to be available in early June.

J. Lindeberg has announced that they will be the official clothing partner of the Summer Games in Paris 2024 and Los Angeles 2028.

This comes as a great honor, and the brand released its exclusive USA Golf Collection to accompany the news. The collection combines performance, innovative technology and USA flag colors.

Featuring ClimaCool and 37.5 TM technology, UV50 sun protection garments and high flexibility fabrics, this will keep the athlete functional and comfortable.

Each piece is crafted using 3D technology to ensure proper fit, incorporating strategically cut lines that enhance body movement. The classic red, white and blue of the USA are woven into every design. This bold effort is a representation of the nation and its athletes, embodying the philosophy that to win, one must feel and look like a winner.

J. Lindeberg to be official clothing partner of USA men and women's Summer Games
J. Lindeberg to be official clothing partner of USA men and women’s Summer Games. (J.Lindeberg)

“We are thrilled to reveal our full USA Golf Collection to the press and attendees in Orlando at the upcoming PGA Show,” said Hans-Christian Meyer, CEO of J. Lindeberg. “Dressing the USA teams for the Summer Games in Paris 2024 and Los Angeles 2028 will be an honor that underscores our commitment to excellence in golf and sportswear design alike.”

J. Lindeberg to be official clothing partner of USA men and women's Summer Games
J. Lindeberg to be official clothing partner of USA men and women’s Summer Games. (J.Lindeberg)

The collection is set to be available in early June, and the collection will turn heads in proper USA spirit. You can learn more about this collection here.

[afflinkbutton text=”Shop J.Lindeberg golf apparel” link=”https://worldwidegolfshops.pxf.io/Kj3gqv”]

Jordan Spieth on Xander Schauffele’s humility after winning gold medal: ‘If it were me or Justin, we would be wearing it at dinner’

Jordan Spieth says Nelly Korda is on an “unbelievable run” and that Xander Schauffele is humble about his gold.

Jordan Spieth shared a house with Olympic gold medal winner Xander Schauffele at the WGC-FedEx St. Jude Invitational in Memphis last week, and one thing the roomies watched together was the women’s golf competition at the Tokyo Summer Games.

“Yeah, we were watching some of it last night,” Spieth said Saturday after the third round of the at TPC Southwind. “We were teeing off so early, you had to kind of go to sleep before. … I guess I went to bed when Nelly had taken a three-shot lead through 10.”

Spieth then raved about Nelly Korda, who won gold, giving the Americans a sweep of the top prizes in golf in Tokyo.

“Justin [Thomas], some of those girls live in Florida and he knows the Kordas really well, so he was kind of, we pick his brain a little bit.

“Obviously she’s on an unbelievable run, No. 1 in the world going in and winning gold in the Olympics, kind of how you want it to be, right? Best player wins.”

Schauffele, who’s been showing off his gold medal to pretty much everyone—and with good reason—brought it with him to Memphis.

“Xander obviously having the gold medal at the house is pretty cool,” Spieth said.

“He’s so humble. If it were me or Justin. .. we would just be wearing it at dinner, we wouldn’t take it off. Justin had to make him go upstairs and get it when I got here to show me, and it was super cool.”

Spieth, currently ranked second in the PGA Tour’s FedEx Cup standings, is not playing this week at the Wyndham Championship, the final regular season event before the playoffs start.

[vertical-gallery id=778118650]

Olympic golf pairings, tee times and schedule for the second round

Everything you need to know for the second round of men’s golf at the Olympics.

After making its competitive return at the Rio Olympics in 2016, Olympic golf is back once again this week in Japan.

Kasumigaseki Country Club plays host to both the men’s and women’s competition. Kasumigaseki’s East Course will play 7,447 yards for the men, July 29-August 1. For the women, August 4-7, it will play 6,648 yards.

Each competition has 60 players and there is no cut.

The first round featured a weather delay, but that didn’t rain on the Sepp Straka show. With his twin brother, Sam, on the bag, Sepp shot a bogey-free, 8-under 63 to grab the lead in the first round. Jazz Janewattananond is a stroke behind Straka while Thomas Pieters and Carlos Ortiz are two back.

While the second round competition will be held Friday morning local time, the 13-hour time difference means play will begin Thursday night, July 29, in Eastern Daylight Time.

OLYMPICS: Leaderboard | How to watch

From tee times to TV and streaming info, here’s everything you need to know about the second round of the men’s golf competition at the Olympics. All times Eastern.

[vertical-gallery id=778118650]

Tee times

Time Players
6:30 p.m. Rory Sabbatini, Mito Pereira, Renato Paratore
6:41 p.m. Jhonattan Vegas, Thomas Detry, Kalle Samooja
6:52 p.m. Mackenzie Hughes, Alex Noren, Jazz Janewattananond
7:03 p.m. Rasmus Hojgaard, Romain Langasque, Si Woo Kim
7:14 p.m. Viktor Hovland, Cameron Smith, Garrick Higgo
7:25 p.m. Collin Morikawa, Rory McIlroy, Sungjae Im
7:41 p.m. Patrick Reed, Tommy Fleetwood, Shane Lowry
7:52 p.m. Rafael Campos, Maximilian Kieffer, Ashun Wu
8:03 p.m. Fabrizio Zanotti, Juvic Pagunsan, Scott Vincent
8:14 p.m. Udayan Mane, Ondrej Lieser, Jorge Campillo
8:25 p.m. Rikuya Hoshino, Thomas Pieters, Sepp Straka
8:36 p.m. Adri Arnaus, Sami Valimaki, Matthias Schwab
8:47 p.m. Sebastian Munoz, Henrik Norlander, Joachim Hansen
9:03 p.m. Carlos Ortiz, Antoine Rozner, Guido Migliozzi
9:14 p.m. Xander Schauffele, Abraham Ancer, Christiaan Bezuidenhout
9:25 p.m. Justin Thomas, Joaquin Niemann, Paul Casey
9:36 p.m. Hideki Matsuyama, Marc Leishman, Corey Conners
9:47 p.m. C.T. Pan, Ryan Fox, Anirban Lahiri
9:58 p.m. Hurly Long, Carl Yuan, Gavin Kyle Green
10:09 p.m. Kristian Johannessen, Adrian Meronk, Gunn Charoenkul

[listicle id=778118860]

Olympic golf pairings, tee times and schedule for the first round

Everything you need to know for the first round of men’s golf at the Olympics.

After making its competitive return at the Rio Olympics in 2016, Olympic golf is back once again this week in Japan.

Kasumigaseki Country Club plays host to both the men’s and women’s competition. Kasumigaseki’s East Course will play 7,447 yards for the men, July 29-August 1. For the women, August 4-7, it will play 6,648 yards.

Marquee groups include: Xander Schauffele, Abraham Ancer, Christiaan Bezuidenhout; Justin Thomas, Joaquin Niemann, Paul Casey; Collin Morikawa, Rory McIlroy, Sungjae Im; Patrick Reed, Tommy Fleetwood, Shane Lowry.

While the competition will be held Thursday morning local time, the 13-hour time difference means play will begin Wednesday night, July 28, in Eastern Daylight Time.

From tee times to TV and streaming info, here’s everything you need to know about the first round of the men’s golf competition at the Olympics. All times Eastern.

[listicle id=778118860]

Tee times

Time Players
6:30 p.m. Rikuya Hoshino, Thomas Pieters, Sepp Straka
6:41 p.m. Adri Arnaus, Sami Valimaki, Matthias Schwab
6:52 p.m. Sebastian Munoz, Henrik Norlander, Joachim Hansen
7:03 p.m. Carlos Ortiz, Antoine Rozner, Guido Migliozzi
7:14 p.m. Xander Schauffele, Abraham Ancer, Christiaan Bezuidenhout
7:25 p.m. Justin Thomas, Joaquin Niemann, Paul Casey
7:41 p.m. Hideki Matsuyama, Marc Leishman, Corey Conners
7:52 p.m. C.T. Pan, Ryan Fox, Anirban Lahiri
8:03 p.m. Hurly Long, Carl Yuan, Gavin Kyle Green
8:14 p.m. Kristian Johannessen, Adrian Meronk, Gunn Charoenkul
8:25 p.m. Rory Sabbatini, Mito Pereira, Renato Paratore
8:36 p.m. Jhonattan Vegas, Thomas Detry, Kalle Samooja
8:47 p.m. Mackenzie Hughes, Alex Noren, Jazz Janewattananond
9:03 p.m. Rasmus Hojgaard, Romain Langasque, Si Woo Kim
9:14 p.m. Viktor Hovland, Cameron Smith, Garrick Higgo
9:25 p.m. Collin Morikawa, Rory McIlroy, Sungjae Im
9:36 p.m. Patrick Reed, Tommy Fleetwood, Shane Lowry
9:47 p.m. Rafael Campos, Maximilian Kieffer, Ashun Wu
9:58 p.m. Fabrizio Zanotti, Juvic Pagunsan, Scott Vincent
10:09 p.m. Udayan Mane, Ondrej Lieser, Jorge Campillo

[vertical-gallery id=778118650]

John Rahm tests positive again, out of Olympics

Rahm had to take four PCR tests in the United Kingdom before coming to Tokyo. He failed three consecutive tests.

It’s deja vu all over again for Jon Rahm.

The Spanish golfer, World No. 1 and  2021 U.S. Open champion will not participate in the Tokyo Olympics after testing positive for COVID-19.

Rahm, who finished tied for third in the British Open last week, had to take four PCR tests in the United Kingdom before coming to Tokyo. He failed three consecutive tests, the Spanish Olympic Committee confirmed to USA TODAY Sports.

Testing positive had been Rahm’s kryptonite. He won the U.S. Open just 15 days after he tested positive for COVID-19 and was forced to withdraw from the Memorial Tournament ahead of the final round despite holding a commanding six-stroke lead. Ahead of the U.S. Open he said of coronavirus, “I’ve got it all. I had it, I got the antibodies, got the vaccination. I feel invincible at this point.”

The Spanish Olympic Committee said, via the International Golf Federation, that they could not get a replacement for Rahm due to inadequate “time to find a replacement and comply with the necessary health protocols required for the Tokyo Olympics.” Adri Arnaus will be Spain’s only representative in the men’s golf competition, which is scheduled to begin Thursday.

Speaking in May, Rahm commented on his desire to represent his country in the Olympics despite what he termed the “inconveniences” involved in competing.

“I’ve been able to win championships representing Spain as an amateur in almost every imaginable level, and to bring back the gold medal would be something amazing…It’s an absolute dream of mine to be an Olympian.”

Rahm said he had mild symptoms of the coronavirus when he previously tested positive. He had to quarantine ahead of the U.S. Open. At the time of his original positive test, he tweeted out, “This is one of those things that happens in life, one of those moments where how we respond to a setback defines us as people. I’m very thankful that my family and I are all OK. I will take all of the necessary precautions to be safe and healthy, and I look forward to returning to the golf course as soon as possible.”

Ahead of winning his first major, Rahm said he was vaccinated the Monday before the June 3-6 Memorial and regretted waiting to get vaccinated.

“Looking back on it, yeah, I guess I wish I would have done it earlier, but thinking on scheduling purposes and having the PGA and defending Memorial, I was just – to be honest, it wasn’t in my mind,” Rahm said at the time. “I’m not going to lie; I was trying to just get ready for a golf tournament. If I had done it in a few days earlier, probably we wouldn’t be having these conversations right now. It is what it is. We move on.”

Less than six hours earlier, American Bryson DeChambeau also tested positive and was replaced on Team USA by Patrick Reed, who had been third in line to be a replacement, behind Patrick Cantlay and Brooks Koepka.

Contributing: Jim Reineking, Alex Ptachick, USA TODAY.