Mixed-Team Event May Finally Be Coming To Golf With Proposal Submitted For 2028 OIympics

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While there are more differing opinions in the world of golf these days than ever before, every single fan of the sport has had one common thing on their wish list for quite some time: a mixed-team event.

While nothing has been made official about a team event featuring both men and women, plans are finally being put in motion, and we could be treated to a mixed event during the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.

According to the International Golf Federation (IGF), a proposal to include a 36-hole team competition during the 20208 Games was formally submitted to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in January. The 36-hole event would feature 16 teams with one round consisting of a best-ball format and the other being alternate shot.

The mixed-team event would not replace the individual tournament in the Olympics, either, so we'd simply be getting more golf. The mixed event would be played on Sunday and Monday between the men's and women's individual tournaments.

"At the beginning of next year, they should make the decision as to what events will be in the program for L.A.," Antony Scanlon, the executive director of the International Golf Federation, said. "And 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."

American Xander Schauffele won gold during the 2020 Olympics, held in 2021. (Photo by Zheng Huansong/Xinhua via Getty Images)

The teams would be selected from the 60 men and 60 women already qualified for individual play based on the Olympic Golf Ranking. At this point, it will likely only be one team per country to ensure the broadest possible representation, according to the IGF.

Watching Scottie Scheffler and Nelly Korda for the United States take on an Aussie team of Cameron Smith and Hannah Green, for example, would be phenomenal. Plus, the golf portion of the 2028 Olympics is set to be held at the already-beloved Riviera Country Club, the site of the PGA Tour's Genesis Invitational.

Current World No. 1 Nelly Korda teaming up with a fellow male American in a mixed-team event in the 2028 Olympics would be quite the scene. (Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Mike Tirico, who will host NBC's primetime Olympic coverage this summer, is all for a mixed-team event in golf taking place in four years time.

"I think if there's anything that could show growth of golf in the Olympics, this is right for it. It's right under the sport’s nose, and it's really easy to do because there are 60-person fields in each of the events. You can pull it off and I think it'll be a grand slam," Tirico told the IGF.

There is no telling what the professional golf world will look like in 2028, but a mixed-team event would be a celebrated occasion no matter what the circumstances may be around the game.

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Mark covers all sports at OutKick while keeping a close eye on the world of professional golf. He graduated from the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga before earning his master's degree in journalism from the University of Tennessee. He somehow survived living in Knoxville despite ‘Rocky Top’ being his least favorite song ever written. Before joining OutKick, he wrote for various outlets including SB Nation, The Spun, and BroBible. Mark was also a writer for the Chicago Cubs Double-A affiliate in 2016 when the team won the World Series. He's still waiting for his championship ring to arrive. Follow him on Twitter @itismarkharris.