(LIV Golf) – These standouts from the LIV tour are going for gold in Paris.
SPAIN
JON RAHM
Legion XIII Captain
Age: 29
Born: Barrica, Spain
Turned pro: 2016
Professional wins: 21
Best LIV Golf result: 1 (2024 UK by JCB)
Previous Olympics experience: None
Jon says …
ON BEING AN OLYMPIAN: “I think right now for a lot of people, it may not have the significance it will have in the future. But I think for all of us competing, to own a gold medal and earn a gold medal is something that very few people in history can do. To be able to add to your country’s medal count is something special. It’s basically a dream come true. It’s a dream that became a possibility only eight years ago for most of us, so it’s quite special.”
ON REPRESENTING SPAIN: “I’ve been able to do it luckily in many stages throughout my career, as an amateur and as a pro. To once more in a different stage be able to do it is so special. I’ve been very fortunate as well to succeed representing Spain and carrying the Spanish flag, so if me and David can end up with a medal, that would be absolutely incredible. It’s something that very few athletes in the history of Spain can really say they’ve been able to accomplish. It would be something very special to be able to do it.”
DAVID PUIG
Fireballs GC
Age: 22
Born: La Garriga, Spain
Turned pro: 2022
Professional wins: 2
Best LIV Golf result: T3 (2024 Houston)
Previous Olympics experience: None
David says …
ON BEING AN OLYMPIAN: “It means the world to me. I think I put a lot of hard work and a lot of miles, a lot of travel to different countries on LIV and Asian Tour, so traveling a lot, working a lot, but it paid off and I’m super proud, and I’m excited to represent Spain.”
ON REPRESENTING SPAIN WITH RAHM: “He’s a great friend. We share a lot of stuff together, coaches, workout guy and pretty much everything. So yeah, having him alongside me, and he’s a great friend, and I learn a lot from him, so I’m excited for that.”
MEXICO
ABRAHAM ANCER
Fireballs GC
Age: 33
Born: McAllen, Texas
Turned pro: 2013
Professional wins: 6
Best LIV Golf result: 1 (2024 Hong Kong)
Previous Olympics experience: Tied for 14th at Tokyo in 2021
Abe says …
ON BEING AN OLYMPIAN: “It’s an honor. We don’t get to do this very often, and I feel like every time we have the opportunity, it feels different than any tournament. Trying to contribute with a medal for your country is really special. Carlos and myself got to do it in Tokyo and also in the Pan-American Games, and we take it very serious, and we’re looking forward to Paris and hopefully coming back with a medal. That’s the dream we have.”
IMPORTANCE OF AN OLYMPIC MEDAL: “I think of any golfer’s accomplishments, it’s definitely up there. It’s tough to compare because we’ve only had it for eight years or maybe a little bit more than that, if I’m not mistaken. Obviously you have the history of the majors and everybody’s dream is to win a major, but I think it’s up there. I definitely think it’s up there. It’s in a different category, I feel like, but it’s something that would mean so much in the golf world but also as a country for people that don’t even know anything about golf. I think it’s definitely up there with majors.”
CARLOS ORTIZ
Torque GC
Age: 33
Born: Guadalajara, Mexico
Turned pro: 2013
Professional wins: 8
Best LIV Golf result: 1 (2024 Houston)
Previous Olympics experience: Tied for 42nd at Tokyo in 2021
Carlos says …
ON BEING AN OLYMPIAN: “It’s an honor representing your country. Honestly, doing it now this time in Paris is going to be great, having people watching and everything. Every time you have a chance to represent your country, it’s just an honor, and we’re always trying to do it the best we can. It’s just that extra motivation when you have a country behind you.”
CHILE
JOAQUIN NIEMANN
Torque GC Captain
Age: 25
Born: Santiago, Chile
Turned pro: 2018
Professional wins: 12
Best LIV Golf result: 1 (2024 Mayakoba, 2024 Jeddah)
Previous Olympics experience: Tied for 10th at Tokyo in 2021
Joaquin says …
ON BEING AN OLYMPIAN: “It’s super special for me. Me and Mito, we’ve done it a few times before. We played in Japan and in Chile for the Pan-American Games. We’ve been close. Mito was pretty close in Japan to getting a medal. Yeah, I think it will be super-special to have a chance to be there in Paris. I think it’s going to be different than Japan, being more open for spectators. I’m looking forward to that week and bring hopefully two medals.”
MITO PEREIRA
Torque GC
Age: 29
Born: Santiago, Chile
Turned pro: 2015
Professional wins: 10
Best LIV Golf result: 2 (2023 Greenbrier)
Previous Olympics experience: Tied for 4th at Tokyo in 2021, losing in a playoff for the bronze medal
Mito says …
ON BEING AN OLYMPIAN: ““It’s always very cool to represent my country in any way possible. But the Olympics is probably the biggest stage to represent your country. It’s an honor to represent your country every time you can. We’ve been doing it since we were kids, and as a professional sometimes we don’t get to represent our countries much, so to do it in the Olympics, it’s big for me. The second time that I’m going to play, so I just hope to get a medal for our country.”
ON BEING SO CLOSE TO A MEDAL IN 2021: “Three years waiting for that again,” Pereira said about the pursuit of an Olympic medal. “I’m really focused on playing my best to get the medal. It was really cool in Japan. I think this year is going to be even cooler. No Covid, so there’s going to be fans, and we can actually go to another sports event, so it’s going to be great.”
POLAND
ADRIAN MERONK
Cleeks GC
Age: 31
Born: Hamburg, Germany
Turned pro: 2016
Professional wins: 5
Best LIV Golf result: 2 (2024 Houston)
Previous Olympics experience: Tied for 51st at Tokyo in 2021
Adrian says …
ON REPRESENTING HIS COUNTRY: “I’m very proud of that, to be wearing the Polish uniform next week and being able to share that experience with other Polish athletes.”
ON HIS TOKYO OLYMPIC EXPERIENCE: “First time was a little bit overwhelming. I was like a kid in a zoo, just looking at everyone, just trying to take as much experience as possible, and I really enjoyed it, but at the same time, I didn’t really focus on the tournament as much as I should have. This year I know what to expect and will just fully commit from day one to my work and try to play my best golf and hopefully battle for the medals.”
ON HIS OLYMPICS INTEREST: “Growing up, I remember watching all of the Olympics with my dad every four years. I was always looking forward to it. So being part of it, it’s a very great experience, and I hope I can play my best golf and bring some hardware home.”