Scottie Scheffler dispute statement over the selection procedure for Olympic golf

Scottie Scheffler has voiced his support for the continuation of the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) as the qualification process for the men’s Olympic golf event, despite Jon Rahm’s calls for change.

Scheffler is one of four American stars participating in this week’s golf event at Le Golf National, alongside Xander Schauffele, Colin Morikawa, and Wyndham Clark. As it stands, the Olympic tournament field consists of the top-performing players from each nation according to the world rankings.

Team USA is the only team with four players competing, thanks to Scheffler, Schauffele, Morikawa, and Clark all being within the top-10 in the world, making them automatically eligible.

The decision to determine the event’s field based on the OWGR list has been met with criticism by many, amidst LIV Golf’s ongoing issue with the rankings. Numerous high-profile players have seen their names drop down the world rankings due to LIV events proceeding without OWGR points available.

This has resulted in players like Bryson DeChambeau, Cameron Smith, and Brooks Koepka missing out this week. However, Scheffler believes that the rankings are a fair method of assembling each team, rather than using a selection committee process. “I mean, I think it’s nice having a pretty standard rating system for how you can choose the team,” he commented after Thursday’s opening round.

The golfing sphere is abuzz as pros debate team selection methods. Scheffler continued: “I think it gets a little bit objective when you have a selection committee choosing teams. Most of our team events, you have guys that can qualify automatically and there are some that are chosen. We had tournaments in amateur golf where the whole team was chosen at times.

I’m a fan of having a standard system where you know where you stand in terms of getting in like it is now. If there is a committee that would decide the last couple spots, but also it’s so challenging being in the United States getting on the team. You get four guys because we are all Top 15 in the world and it’s still by far the hardest team to make.”

On the topic of international competition, he reflected: “If we can bring all of our best players, the field for this tournament would look a lot different and I’m sure we would have a better chance of taking home more medals but it’s hard to choose the best four every year.”

Meanwhile, LIV Golf sensations Rahm and Puig, representing Spain, have shared their take. Letting nations have a freer hand in selection, Rahm pitched in: “Allow the countries to pick themselves,” and pointed out the leeway other sports have: “There needs to be some guidelines, but Team USA basketball has freedom to choose whoever they want.”

Golf ace Rahm passionately expressed: “I understand it’s a different circumstance, but I think you need to let each country choose who they want to play.”

Meanwhile, Rahm and Scheffler found themselves neck-and-neck in sixth after the Thursday game in Paris, with both players nailing a solid four-under-par 67 on day one.