GOLF
Golf consists of striking a ball into a series of holes using a selection of clubs and counting the number of strokes it takes to do so.
An official sport at the Paris 1900 and St. Louis 1904 Games, golf then vanished from the programme until it returned at Rio 2016.
There are two main tournament formats: match play, in which two golfers compete against each other hole-by-hole; and stroke play, in which the total number of shots taken is counted. Stroke play is used at the Games, with athletes playing four rounds of 18 holes over four days, giving a total of 72 holes. 60 men and 60 women participate, based on the world rankings as compiled by the International Golf Federation.
Ireland’s best known Male Golfers are Rory McIlroy, Shane Lowry and Padraig Harrington (who represented Ireland at the Rio Olympic Games), while in the Women’s Game Stephanie Meadow and Leona Maguire lead the pack.
In Ireland, the Men’s game is administered by the Golf Union of Ireland and the Irish Ladies Golf Union.
National Federation: Golf Union of Ireland
International Federation: International Golf Federation
GOLF NEWS
LA28 Qualification Dates in 2026
ROAD TO LA ALREADY UNDERWAY! 2026 marks the beginning of the qualification journey for many sports as they look ahead to the Los Angeles Olympic Games in 2028. Qualifying for the Games, which take place from 14–30 July 2028, is challenging across all disciplines. Most sports require either direct qualification through specific events, qualification via [...]
In The News – April 13th
A strong week for Team Ireland across multiple sports, with standout performances and important developments across the high-performance system. Golf Rory McIlroy delivered a historic back-to-back victory at The Masters Tournament, finishing on -12 to secure his sixth major title. The win further underlines his place among the greats of the game and marks a [...]
Team Ireland Weekend Highlights, April 12–13, 2025
From Augusta to Dublin, Belgium to the Basque Country, Irish athletes produced standout performances across a range of Olympic sports this weekend. Rory McIlroy Completes Career Grand Slam Rory McIlroy delivered a defining moment for Irish sport this weekend, winning the 2025 Masters Tournament and becoming just the sixth golfer in history — and [...]
DIFFICULT DAY AT LE GOLF NATIONAL FOR MAGUIRE AND MEADOW
Leona Maguire and Stephanie Meadow were back in action at Le Golf National in round two of the women’s singles today. Meadow carded a round of 74; four better than yesterday, but Maguire will be frustrated after signing for a round of 79 today. GOLF It was another unforgiving day for Stephanie Meadow and Leona [...]
SELECTED ATHLETES
Séamus Power
BIOGRAPHY Séamus Power represented Ireland in the men's individual golf stroke play tournament at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games - Ireland's debut in Olympic golf - finishing tied 15th with a total of 279 (rounds of 68-67-72-72). He was briefly in medal contention after a second-round 67 that included an eagle on the [...]
Pádraig Harrington
BIOGRAPHY Pádraig Harrington represented Ireland in the men's individual golf stroke play tournament at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics, finishing tied 21st - 13 shots behind gold medallist Justin Rose. Golf was returning to the Olympic Games for the first time since 1904, and Harrington had played a role in advocating for its reinclusion. [...]
Stephanie Meadow
BIOGRAPHY Stephanie Meadow represented Ireland in the women's individual golf stroke play tournament at three consecutive Olympic Games, finishing tied 31st at Rio 2016, tied 7th at Tokyo 2020 and competing at Paris 2024. Her Tokyo performance - rounds of 72-66-68-66 for a total of 272, just three shots off a bronze medal - remains [...]
Shane Lowry
BIOGRAPHY Shane Lowry represented Ireland in the men's individual golf stroke play tournament at two Olympic Games, finishing tied 22nd at Tokyo 2020 and tied 26th at Paris 2024. At the Paris Games he had the honour of carrying the Irish flag at the Opening Ceremony along the River Seine alongside Sarah Lavin. Lowry grew [...]
Leona Maguire
BIOGRAPHY Leona Maguire represented Ireland in the women's golf individual stroke play tournament at three Olympic Games - finishing 21st at Rio 2016 as the leading amateur, 23rd at Tokyo 2020 and 59th at Paris 2024. She grew up in Ballyconnell, Co. Cavan, the daughter of two teachers, and attended Loreto College, Cavan. She has [...]
Rory McIlroy
BIOGRAPHY Rory McIlroy represented Ireland in the men's individual golf stroke play tournament at two Olympic Games, finishing tied 4th at Tokyo 2020 and tied 5th at Paris 2024. His Tokyo near-miss was one of the most dramatic moments of the Games - he was involved in a seven-man playoff for the bronze medal, was [...]