Excitement for the novelty of representing Spain and participating for the first time in the Olympic tournament; overflowing illusion before the start of the competition and the characteristic ambition of those who aspire to the maximum.
Jon Rahm and David Puig have spread optimism in the official appearance held in the press room of the Golf National, where their presence instills admiration and respect.
They look at each other, they listen to each other, there is evident complicity between both players, who have traced, with the exception of the age difference, very similar sporting trajectories in their beginnings – National School, national teams, Arizona State University – in order to intertwine again their desires around the development of the Olympic competition, which will take place from August 1 to 4.
“I sign for both of us to get a medal, why not?” said Jon Rahm while David Puig nodded silently, internalizing an Olympic experience that both are carving out at breakneck speed.
Neither of them wastes any time: a visit to the Olympic Village and to various places in Paris on the inside day to soak up a personal experience that both of them will be able to take advantage of on the fairways and greens of the Golf National as of August 1st.
The statements flow with great speed: “It’s exciting to wear the uniform of Spain again, on Sunday we will wear the red jersey,” says Jon Rahm.
“We watch as many sports as we can in our spare time, the water polo victory was impressive. We have always loved the Olympics, they are something special and being part of it makes it even more special,” they both share.
“Being here, representing Spain, still seems impossible to me. In January I was very far from qualifying, but after winning on the Asian Tour I saw that the dream could be possible,” says David Puig before focusing on how well the sensations generated by the outstanding performances at the LIV Golf UK, which concluded last Sunday with Jon Rahm lifting the champion’s trophy and David Puig at the top of the leaderboard, have helped them both.
“Winning increases self-confidence, I come with a lot of positive energy. The not so good feelings of previous weeks are gone, knowing that I can win without playing at one hundred percent”, certified Jon Rahm.
Comfortable and relaxed before the big battle, the sensations continue to unfold. “I no longer see Jon as the Spanish hero, I see him as a friend who has helped me to play better and reach this level,” says David Puig.
“Hopefully these Olympic Games will help Spanish society as a whole to get to know golf better and enjoy it,” they both say.
“On a personal level, winning an Olympic medal is the most important thing you can offer your country. It has an enormous weight, on a par with the majors in golf,” said Jon Rahm.
“There are many athletes who have worked all their lives to reach a moment like this, like us. That’s why being here is so exciting,” they both reflect.
“Very few people in history can say they have been part of the Olympic Games, and that’s why it’s so special for us. Hopefully we can be part of the Spanish success this week and add ours to Spain’s medal tally, it would be amazing,” says Jon Rahm.
“What’s more important, winning majors or winning a gold medal? It’s hard to say. Golf’s history with the Olympics is so young right now that it may not have the magnitude or recognition it could have in the future. But winning an Olympic medal representing your country is an honor on par with the majors in golf,” says Jon Rahm.
.
CURIOSITIES OF THE MEN’S OLYMPIC GOLF TOURNAMENT
. Ten of the top fifteen players in the World Ranking, including the top seven, are in Paris for the Men’s Olympic Tournament, which gives an idea of the enormous competition established even before the start.
. Four players will participate for the third time in an Olympic Games: New Zealand’s Ryan Fox, Malaysia’s Gavin Green, C.T. Pan (from Chinese Taipei) and Paraguay’s Fabrizio Zanotti.
. Thirty-two golfers will make their Olympic debut, including four of the top 10 in the World Ranking: Scottie Scheffler (No. 1), Ludvig Åberg (No. 4), Wyndham Clark (No. 5) and Spain’s Jon Rahm (No. 10).
. Five players competed in the 2018 Ryder Cup held at Le Golf National: Tommy Fleetwood (balance: 4 wins, 1draw and 0 losses), Rory McIlroy (2-3-0), Alex Noren (2-1-0), Jon Rahm (1-2-0) and Thorbjørn Olesen (1-1-0).
. Three winners of the French Open integrated in the DP World Tour, played every year at Le Golf National are present in the men’s Olympic tournament: Guido Migliozzi (2022), Alex Noren (2018) and Tommy Fleetwood (2017).
. Four golfers competed in the World Amateur Team Championship held in 2022 at Le Golf National: Ludvig Åberg (T7/Sweden), Adrien Dumont de Chassart (T11/Belgium), Keita Nakajima (T53/Japan).
. Ireland’s Shane Lowry and Paraguay’s Fabrizio Zanotti were appointed to serve as flag bearers for their respective countries during the opening ceremony.
. Oldest golfer: Colombia’s Camilo Villegas (42 years old)
. Youngest golfer: Korea’s Tom Kim (22 years old)
. Thirty-two countries are represented, with a total participation of 60 golfers. Country representation rose to 36 in Tokyo 2020 and 34 in Rio 2016). Switzerland makes its debut in the men’s Olympic golf competition for the first time in history thanks to the presence of Joel Girrbach.
. Top-ranked player in the Olympic Golf Ranking who gets medal: number 2 / Henrik Stenson – silver in 2016
. Lowest ranked player in the Olympic Golf Ranking to medal: number 43 / C.T. Pan – bronze in 2020
. Australia’s Min Woo Lee will make his Olympic debut. A week later his sister Minjee Lee competes in the women’s event. The Lee’s constitute the only existing brother-sister relationship in the Olympic golf tournament.
. Korean Byeong Hun An’s parents, Jae-Hyung Ahn (KOR – bronze) and Jiao Zhimin (CHN – silver in doubles and bronze in singles) won medals at the 1988 Seoul Olympics in table tennis. The father was a bronze medalist, while the mother won silver in doubles and bronze in the singles competition.
Leave a Reply