“Just mindblowing” - Dutch pro takes to social media to slam 2024 Olympics snub, gets support from Paul Casey

Three Dutch golfers' dreams of going to Paris came crashing down as they were denied entry into the 2024 Olympics. Despite qualifying based on the international criteria, they failed to pass the criteria set in place by their own country.

There were a total of four Dutch golfers that qualified for the 2024 Olympics. Joost Luiten and Darius van Driel were set to fill the men's quota, while Anne van Dam and Dewi Weber made the field for the women's quota. However, the Dutch Olympic Officials made a call, allowing only Van Dam to compete in Paris.

The action was severely criticized by many, and Joost Luiten recently spoke out on Instagram about the hardship he faced due to the internal discrimination by the Dutch Officials.

He said in the caption:

"I am very sad to say I will not play the 2024 Olympics. The @nocnsf will not send me even though I have qualified by the international golf federations criteria and the Olympic criteria @nochs have there own criteria (good chance to finish top 8) and they don't think I have a chance to finish in the top 8 of The Olympics (60men field)"

Luiten further backed up his claim that he could contend for a top 8 finish by providing some stats in his caption:

"I have finished inside of the top 10 almost 20% of the time and those were 156 man fields. This was 25% in the 2023 season. It's just mindblowing that they say. I can not finish top 8 at the @olympics, @nocnsf have absolutely no clue about golf."

The International Golf Federation has condemned the actions of the Dutch Officials.

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Why have 3 Dutch golfers been denied entry into the 2024 Olympics?

While all four golfers made the cut to be a part of the 2024 Olympics field, the Dutch officials will allow only one of them to compete. Earlier this year, the Dutch officials set internal criteria where women golfers must be ranked in the top 24 of the Olympic rankings and men must be ranked in the top 27.

None of the golfers made the criteria set by the committee, with Van Dam being ranked the highest at No. 34. However, her runner-up in the LET's Tour Championship was enough for the committee to think that she would contend for a top 8 finish at the 2024 Olympics.

Luiten also said (via Golf Digest):

"I think it's a shame that things aren't being expanded a little. Then more Dutch people also have a chance. Van Dam was there in Tokyo, Wil Besseling was not. More participants would be good for Dutch golf and for the medal chances. It is a great pity that [the Dutch federation] ruins those chances itself."

Despite the best efforts of the IGF, there will be no changes to the golf roster of the Netherlands.