Three Dutch golfers will be watching 2024 Olympics Despite qualifying for the Olympics, they withdrew their country from the competition after the Olympic Committee suggested their world rankings meant they had no realistic chance of competing.
Joost Luiten, 38, European Tour He has played in 21 major tournaments and is currently ranked 147th in the world and 40th in the Olympic rankings. He had qualified to play in next month’s Paris tournament but was told this week he could not take part.
Joost Luiten of the Netherlands watches the first round of the KLM Open at the International on June 20, 2024 in Amsterdam, Netherlands. (Octavio Passos/Getty Images)
“I am disappointed that I will not be able to compete in the 2024 Olympics. [Netherlands Olympic Committee/Dutch Sports Federation] “Despite meeting the International Golf Federation standards and the Olympic standards, I will not be sent,” he posted on Instagram on Tuesday.
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“[The NOCNSF] They have their own criteria (likely to finish in the top eight) and they don’t think I have a chance to finish in the top eight at the Olympics (60-player field). But I’ve finished in the top 10 almost 20% of my 18-year pro career and that number came in 156 starts. For the 2023 season, it’s 25%.”
He called the decision “mind bowling” and slammed the Dutch Olympic Committee, saying they “have no idea about golf”.
The Dutch Golf Federation said in a statement on Tuesday that it hopes to present “extensive discussions and data” at a meeting with the Dutch committee on June 14 to demonstrate golf’s unique differences compared to other sports.
“According to them, it has not been demonstrated that he has a sufficient chance of finishing in the top eight during the Olympic Games,” the statement read.
Darius van Driel and golfer Dewi Weber, who were also qualified, were denied travel to Paris due to the same rule.
Darius van Driel of the Netherlands looks out at the 18th hole during day two of the Volvo Car Scandinavian Mix at Vasatorps Golf Club in Helsingborg, Sweden on June 7, 2024. (Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images)
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“Jost Reuten, Dewi Weber and myself were not able to compete in the Olympics. [NOCNSF] “They have no idea about golf and it’s a shame we are all suffering right now,” Van Driel said in a social media post.
“I’m not going there for political reasons. [Netherlands Golf Federation] “For agreeing to an absurd demand for national qualification. A sad day for Dutch golf.”
“Our country is saying you’re not worthy to be an Olympian, you’re not worthy to represent the Netherlands,” Weber said. Golf Digest Tuesday. “And, honestly, it’s tough. We asked them, ‘Hey, is this about money? Are we paying for it ourselves? Are our federation paying for it?'”
“They said, ‘We don’t think you are worthy of going to the Olympics.’ That’s a very hurtful and sad message for top athletes like us who just want to prove that we are worthy of going to the Olympics according to the IOC and IGF standards and represent our country and achieve all the Olympic objectives.”
Dewi Weber of the Netherlands walks off the eighth tee during the third round of the Dow Great Lakes Bay Invitational golf tournament at Midland Country Club in Midland, Michigan, USA, Friday, July 21, 2023. (Amy Remus/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
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It is the second tournament in a row that Dutch officials have disqualified golfers who did not finish in the top 100.
Anne van Dam, ranked 108th in the women’s world and 34th in the Olympic rankings, will be the only Dutch golfer.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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