Amidst Golf’s uncertain future at the Olympics, Shane Lowry and Rory McIlroy have a golden opportunity

This is the third straight programme that the Olympic Games have featured golf, although it was actually an Olympic sport back in 1900 and 1904. This rekindled relationship is still in the ‘getting to know each other’ phase. There is ongoing speculation about the format for LA 2028 with talk of match play or mixed events coming into the mix.

The field is undeniably weakened by the absence of certain LIV golfers. The Saudi-funded breakaway primarily plays three-round events that are not recognised by the official world golf rankings.

US Open champion Bryson DeChambeau is one of those pining for inclusion. He was ranked behind Americans Scottie Scheffler, Xander Schauffele, Wyndham Clark and Collin Morikawa. The top 15 players automatically qualify but that group is limited to four per country.

Despite that, there is plenty of star attraction and a medal does hold weight for Team Ireland and beyond. McIlroy is scheduled to tee off alongside Scottie Scheffler and Ludvig Åberg in a group that features three of the top four ranked players. Lowry will play with Byeong Hun An (Korea) and Canada’s Nick Taylor.

McIlroy won’t find a resolution to his ten-year major drought or his turbulent ride of recent. He was asked why he chose to practise at the iconic Old Course this week and replied that it was none of the requester’s business.

The missed cut at The Open, the now infamous late slip last June. All of that is still on his mind. If anything, an Olympic medal would provide timely reassurance he is still the player he wants to be.

“I'd say my focus is pretty high,” McIlroy said. “The last time you guys saw me; I didn't give a very good account of myself at Troon. I want to make sure I'm right where I need to be teeing off on Thursday.

“Again, I've been asked this question a lot, where would an Olympic Medal sit in sort of the hierarchy of my career achievements and it's something I probably won't be able to answer until when everything is said and done.

“I think as golf is in the Olympics for a longer period of time, it will become more of… I don't know if anything will be able to sit alongside the majors.

"We have our four events a year that are the gold standard. But I think this is going to be, in time, right up there amongst that.”

As players arrive for their first practice round, that theme hangs over the day. What does this mean to you? Xander Schauffele is the defending champion and enjoyed two big triumphs this year.

His father, Stefan, was once an aspiring decathlete who had his own career unexpectedly curtailed. Schauffele carries all of that with him now.

Australian Jason Day explained he was glad to get a chance after skipping Rio due to Zika concerns and failing to qualify for Tokyo.

Spaniard Jon Rahm suggested a series of changes, such as letting countries pick their own representatives and incorporating more of a team element to the competition.

Then there is Lowry. A podium spot was where his mind went after a brutal British Open. The place put him through the wringer, ultimately leaving him battered and bruised.

He frames a medal in the context of what happened at Royal Troon. Redemption. He frames the games far beyond that. Commemoration.

Lowry and Sarah Lavin were picked as Ireland’s flag-bearers for the Olympics' opening ceremony. Last Friday they paraded down the parade along the River Seine. That was special.

“Obviously when you get down past all the sites in Paris and then towards the Eiffel Tower, it is kind of a bit of a surreal experience,” he said.

“Other athletes outside of the Irish, I didn't see of those or mix with any of those. But it was nice to kind of be in the Village for a day and hang out with some people.

“I spent the whole day with Sarah Lavin. I got to know her pretty well that day and the story and what she has been through is nothing short of incredible.

"She gained a huge new fan that day and I hope to see her go on and do great things next week. Yeah, just to see what people do and what other athletes go through is a pretty cool thing.”

That captures the curious sense around golf this week. Unlike other events in Paris, the Olympics is not the pinnacle of their sport.

Yet right now Lowry and McIlroy are evidently thrilled to be here and determined to win.

Their participation elevates the sense of legacy that comes with an Olympics, expanding the centre of the sporting universe.

It might not mean as much as a major, but it still means enough.