The International Olympic Committee announced Wednesday that golf at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics will feature a mixed-team event, marking the first team competition in the sport since 1904 and adding a new dimension to its Olympic program, the International Golf Federation said.
The 36-hole competition, to be held at Riviera Country Club, will include 16 teams, each consisting of one male and one female golfer already qualified for the individual men’s and women’s 72-hole stroke-play tournaments.
The event will take place Sunday and Monday between the men’s and women’s individual competitions, with the men’s event shifting to a Wednesday-to-Saturday schedule to accommodate the addition.
The mixed-team format will feature one round of foursomes (alternate shot) and one round of four-ball (best ball), with only one team per country allowed.
“We’re absolutely thrilled to see a mixed-team event added to the program for Los Angeles 2028,” said Antony Scanlon, executive director of the International Golf Federation.
“Golf was incredibly successful at Paris 2024, and this additional format will bring even more attention to our sport.”
Golf returned to the Olympics in 2016 at Rio de Janeiro after a 112-year absence, with only individual stroke-play events for men and women. The push for a mixed-team event gained momentum following the success of the Grant Thornton Invitational, a PGA Tour and LPGA mixed-team event launched in 2023.
Players like Justin Rose, the 2016 Olympic gold medalist, have voiced strong support.
“I’m all for that,” Rose said last year, citing the format’s potential to showcase top talent.
The IOC’s decision aligns with its emphasis on gender equality, with mixed-gender events also added in archery, track and field, gymnastics, rowing, and table tennis for 2028. “The mixed events are a true embodiment of gender equality—men and women competing on the same field for their country,” said IOC sports director Kit McConnell.
Teams will be selected from the 60 men and 60 women qualified via the Olympic Golf Ranking, though the exact qualification process is still to be finalized by 2026. The event requires just two additional days, minimizing scheduling conflicts for players.
Riviera, a storied PGA Tour venue set to host the 2026 U.S. Women’s Open and 2031 U.S. Open, will provide a prestigious stage.
Scottie Scheffler, the 2024 men’s Olympic gold medalist, and Lydia Ko, the 2024 women’s gold medalist, could headline potential pairings, with players expressing enthusiasm for the team format.
“It’s another opportunity for our athletes to display their skills together and win another medal,” Scanlon said.
The Los Angeles Olympics, running July 14-30, 2028 — between The Open Championship and the FedEx Cup Playoffs, will feature 351 medal events and a record 50.5% female athlete participation, the IOC said.
2028 Olympic Potential Marquee Pairings
- Scottie Scheffler, Nelly Korda (USA)
- Rory McIlroy, Leona Maguire (IRL)
- Jon Rahm, Carlota Ciganda (ESP)
- Corey Conners, Brooke Henderson (CAN)
- Min Woo Lee, Minjee Lee (AUS)
- Justin Rose, Charley Hull (ENG)
- Hideki Matsuyama, Ayaka Furue (JPN)
- Ludvig Aberg, Linn Grant (SWE)
- Sungjae Im, A Lim Kim (KOR)
Paul Daly contributed to this report.
