Olympic Golf to be the 5th Major
Rory McIlroy hailed the strong lineup at the Paris Olympics as the perfect remedy for what he termed the “sh**tshow” that golf had become, emphasizing that winning gold is now a top priority for the next generation of players. This sentiment was echoed by Australia’s newest victor, Karl Vilips. Vilips, 22, secured his first professional…
Rory McIlroy hailed the strong lineup at the Paris Olympics as the perfect remedy for what he termed the “sh**tshow” that golf had become, emphasizing that winning gold is now a top priority for the next generation of players. This sentiment was echoed by Australia’s newest victor, Karl Vilips.
Vilips, 22, secured his first professional win in just his sixth start in the US, and has now set his sights on the Olympic Games. A former participant in the 2018 Youth Olympics, Vilips dreams of competing in the Olympics again, possibly as soon as the 2028 Los Angeles Games.
World No.1 Scottie Scheffler’s remarkable comeback to win gold in Paris, against a field that included both LIV and PGA Tour stars, underscored the event’s prestige. McIlroy, who tied for fifth place, praised the Olympics as the “purest form of competition in our sport,” where no prize money was at stake.
Vilips, who moved from Perth to the US at age 11, remains a proud Australian. His recent victory at the Utah Championship on the Korn Ferry Tour, marked by fans chanting “Koala Karl,” has brought him close to earning a PGA Tour card for 2025.
“It would mean a lot for me to be on that team,” Vilips said. “Competing for Australia at the Youth Olympics was a great experience, and winning gold at the actual Olympics would be incredibly special to me. I hope to be part of the team if everything goes well at the next Olympics.”
The 2024 Olympic golf field, featuring top global talent, marked the sport’s best showing since its reintroduction in 2016. Australian star Cameron Smith even adjusted his playing schedule to try and qualify, highlighting the growing importance of the Games.
Vilips stressed that the younger generation already views the Olympic gold medal as golf’s unofficial fifth major. “The Olympic gold medal is something my generation will strive for more than others,” he said. “2016 was tough with Zika, and 2020 in Tokyo was challenging due to COVID. But this year, we saw players truly vying for a medal, with significant emotions from competitors like Scotty and Tommy (Fleetwood) coming down the stretch.
“My generation is taking notice, and I believe that in the next Olympics and even the 2032 Brisbane Games, we will see a strong desire to win. This year marked the first real sign of that shift.”
