Australia's golf stars have called for a mixed-team event to be included at the Olympics as the success of the Grant Thornton Invitational sparks player interest.
According to reports by the Associated Press, the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles is set to feature a mixed event that will embrace a similar format to that played at the Grant Thornton Invitational.
The event is set to add an additional two days to the competition schedule for the sport, with the women's program likely to begin two days after the conclusion of the proposed teams tournament.
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The Olympic golf format is stroke play, where a player competes against all other athletes in the competition by compiling a total score at the end of each round. The player with the lowest number of strokes at the end of the four rounds is named the winner.
The competition is limited to 60 athletes, who are selected based on their world golf ranking. Athletes who are positioned in the top 15 in the world rankings automatically qualify for the event. After the top 15, each country is eligible to select two athletes to compete providing they do not have more than four representatives in the top 10.
Jason Day and Kiwi Lydia Ko claimed victory in a historic mixed-teams event last year as the top-ranked male Aussie golfer issued a plea for the event to be added to the season calendar.
With the PGA Tour and LPGA Tour rarely crossing paths in the current competition schedule, many who competed at the Grant Thornton Invitational expressed their desire to see the team event played again.
For Australia's star sibling duo Min Woo Lee and Minjee Lee, who did not compete at the mixed team event in Florida, the program in Paris will likely mean they will be unable to watch each other's event.
However, the inclusion of a mixed team event would likely ensure both competitions cross paths.
"I've only thought about it a little bit recently," Minjee said of the proposed team event.
"It seems like they are trying to incorporate some sort of teams event [in Los Angeles], which means we have to play two extra days on top of our regular tournament. I'm not sure how they're going to do it.
"I do think with the nature of the Olympics that they should have some sort of team event, if they could incorporate it without having too much strain on the players.
"I'd love for there to be a mixed team event but I don't know how they would fit it in… I'm not sure how I feel about it to be honest."
Min Woo jokingly interjected Minjee, stating: "Wow, just say you don't want to play with me."
Min Woo was open to the proposed format that would see him team up with his sister on the global stage as he prepares to compete in his first Olympic Games in Paris.
"It would be special if we could play together," he said.
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"It will make a big difference playing an extra two days and I guess prep wise it will be tough without a practice round with each other because if we have (our singles competition ) at different times.
"I think it will be cool even if it's just one day to showcase who the best doubles partners are. That would be very special.
"There's a lot of questions around it… Does that mean the guys have to play earlier? The women play after (the men's competition) but when would the doubles be? Will it be the week after?
"I'm sure there would be a lot of input with players and the committee."
Currently at an Olympic level, six of the 32 nations who are scheduled to compete in Paris do not have two representatives in the men's competition to take part in a mixed event. In the women's competition, eight of 34 nations have only one representative.
But two-time LPGA Tour winner and Aussie Olympian Hannah Green offered an easy solution for the imbalance.
"I think it would be great to have the men and women combined (in teams)," Green said.
"If that is too hard, just to have a team score versus just an individual (score). If someone's maybe not doing too well, having (the opportunity) for someone else to pick them up would be cool.
However, Green noted it would be "logistically difficult" to introduce the event to the Olympic schedule.
"It would just be logistically difficult (at the Olympics) because not every country has two representatives," she said.
"It would be nice to be more involved with each other in an individual sport, to make it a bit more team-like.
"It will be interesting to see what they do in LA in 2028 and Brisbane in 2032."
Australia's Olympic golf team will hit the fairways from August 1.
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