For most professional athletes, representing their country at the Olympics is the most honorable and honorable thing they can do. However, it's clear that not everyone feels that way.
Brooks Koepka (USA), Adam Scott (Australia), Tyrrell Hatton (Great Britain), Louis Oosthuizen (South Africa), Thomas Pieters (Belgium) and Marcel Siem (Germany) are all competing in this summer's Olympics. is requesting that he be removed from the registered membership. This was reported by Spanish outlet El Periodi Golf.
This may seem like a surprising development, but it's sure to leave fans around the world scratching their heads.
When you actually do it, it makes a lot of sense.
For the uninitiated, Scott has previously revealed that he doesn't think pros are eligible to participate in the Olympics. He did not participate in either the 2016 or 2021 Games, the first two when golf was re-recognized after a 112-year absence from the Olympics.
So it shouldn't be a shock to anyone.
:format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25362481/2084331481.jpg)
Photo credit: David Cannon/Getty Images
For Koepka and his fellow LIV golfers, the issue is a little more complicated.
The top two players in the Official World Golf Rankings from each participating country will automatically qualify.
Players on the Saudi-backed circuit have plummeted down the rankings as LIV Golf fails to earn OWGR points.
Koepka is currently ranked 31st in the world and 18th among his compatriots. It's highly unlikely he'll make the team, and he'll probably need to win at least one more major.
The same goes for Englishman Tyrrell Hatton. Matt Fitzpatrick and Tommy Fleetwood are England's highest-ranked players, with Hatton attracting attention from the outside.
So it looks like these golfers are primarily trying to save face.
Nevertheless, fans will miss out on seeing the world's best players at one of the biggest events.
Kendall Capps is the senior editor of SB Nation's Playing Through.For more golf coverage, follow us @_PlayingThrough On all major social media platforms.
