Mixed Team Event: The Exciting Proposal for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games

Golf fans around the globe are buzzing with excitement over a new proposal to include a mixed team event at the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. This new idea could bring together some of the best male and female golfers in the world in a mixed team event, which would be a fresh and dynamic way to make the Olympic golf roster more exciting.

A proposal to include a 36-hole mixed team competition at The Riviera Country Club was submitted to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in January. The event aims to bring together 16 mixed-gender teams, each playing one round of foursomes (alternate shot) and one of four-ball (best ball).

These teams would be selected from the 60 men and 60 women already qualified for individual play based on the Olympic Golf Ranking.

The mixed team event is planned to be held on the Sunday and Monday between the men’s and women’s 72-hole individual tournaments. This scheduling adjustment would move the men’s tournament to Wednesday-Saturday, while the women’s schedule would remain unchanged.

Mixed Team event: A Step Towards Innovation

Antony Scanlon, the executive director of the International Golf Federation (IGF), has expressed strong support for this initiative. He noted that the LA 2028 organizing committee is also fully behind the concept, which could enhance the appeal and inclusiveness of golf at the Olympics.

“We’re hoping that the fact that there’s no additional athletes and no additional resources required that the mixed event would be approved by them, especially given the support of the organizing committee,” Scanlon stated.

The idea of a mixed team event is not entirely new. Mixed-gender events have been increasingly popular in other sports at the Olympics, such as relays in swimming and track and field, introduced four years ago in Tokyo.

These events have garnered significant viewership and appreciation, aligning with the IOC’s commitment to gender equality.

Mike Tirico, who will host NBC’s primetime coverage of the Olympics for the fourth time in Paris, is a strong advocate for including a mixed team event in Olympic golf. He emphasized that such events have been “wildly successful and popular and cool to see,” and believes that a mixed team competition would resonate well with golf fans.

Notably, top players from both the PGA TOUR and LPGA Tour have shown enthusiasm for mixed team events. Justin Rose, the gold medalist at the 2016 Rio Olympics, expressed his support, saying:

“I think that there should be an individual competition front and center for sure, but if there’s a chance for a second medal … I’m so up for that as a different format or an additional format in the Olympics.”

If the proposal is accepted, the mixed team event would not only offer an exciting new format but also highlight the collaborative spirit of the sport. The field for the event will be drawn from the top 16 countries that have a male and female athlete who, in consultation with their respective National Olympic Committees, wish to enter. This ensures broad representation and global appeal.

The actual qualification system for the teams doesn’t have to be submitted to the IOC until 2026, giving ample time for fine-tuning the process. The anticipation of potential dream pairings, like Scottie Scheffler and Nelly Korda representing Team USA, adds to the excitement.

“Korda and Scheffler would be in every fairway, right? But what fun that would be for fans of either tour to be watching together,” Tirico enthused.

The inclusion of a mixed team event at the 2028 Olympics could significantly enhance the viewer experience, promoting unity and showcasing the best talents in golf, regardless of gender. The decision will be made early next year, and if approved, this new format promises to be a “grand slam” for the sport.