Xander Schauffele and Scottie Scheffler have had major victories in the current season, but Rory McIlroy has not had one. And not in a year or two, but since a decade. Last time at the US Open in Pinehurst No. 2, a missed putt cost him the painstaking moment of missing his fifth major again. So coming to the 2024 Paris Olympics, the Northern Irishman has a lot more at stake. If not for the four majors themselves, the Olympic gold medal is a different feat. That would surely make McIlroy’s 2024 season a lot better.

However, Le Golf National, an hour in the southwest of Paris, where the 2024 Olympic golf will be held, has not been particularly amusing for the 4-time major winner as of his last start there. The golf course was a nightmare for the 35-year-old exactly six years ago at the 2018 Ryder Cup. It’s not that Europe lost in that edition, but McIlroy did.

The 26-time PGA Tour winner was in an intense battle against Justin Thomas in the Sunday singles. Remember that he had won the two points before and was a little confident in the final, as Europe had a massive lead. The match was tied after JT’s par at the par-5 14th hole. And after that, the two PGA Tour pros halved it till they touched the 18th tee. That’s where McIlroy’s nightmare began.

After his first shot, the ball got stuck in the sand bunker, after which he made several attempts to reach the green, but it stumbled into the water hazard. McIlroy was dejected by the sight of constant failures. Thus, he called Thomas to concede the match, giving Team USA one point.

As seen, Le Golf National has not been welcoming to the four-time major winner in the past few years. Including his first experience at Le Golf National. In 2008, the Northern Irishman made his debut at the Open de France. After shooting 73-75, the then-18-year-old pro missed the cut. However, before the Ryder Cup debacle and after the 2008 failure, there were two times when the Northern Irishman could par best at Le Golf National.

The mixed results Rory McIlroy has achieved at Le Golf National

Le Golf National has not been the favorite of Rory McIlroy’s ground the first and last time he played. However, in that period, the 4-time major winner achieved two of his best results. The first one was at the 2010 Alstom Open de France. It was after two years that McIlroy was playing at the Le Golf National after missing the cut in 2008.

He shot a blistering 68 in the opening round and followed it with 71, 69, and 66 in the next three rounds to be 10 under 274. After his scintillating performance, the 35-year-old finished a solo fourth, his second-best performance at Le Golf National. The best was at the centenary of the Open de France. The Northern Irishman had a disastrous start as he shot 71.

However, in the next round, McIlroy recovered and shot six birdies for 5 under 66. Then in the third round, the 35-year-old was losing it on the front nine but gathered himself in the back for a 70. With an even par in the last round, McIlroy finished third on the leaderboard. So, even though the first and last start at Le Golf National was an ordeal, McIlroy does have a chance of moving from his iffy rounds and winning his first gold medal for Ireland against his fellow American and other pros.