Dutch Golf Star Joost Luiten Blasts Olympic Officials, Calls Them "Amateurs

Luiten, who won a court case to play in the Olympics, was blocked by the International Golf Federation (IGF) after the spot was already taken.

Dutch golf star Joost Luiten unleashed a torrent of criticism at Olympic officials on Friday, calling them "amateurs" and suggesting they turn the golf event into an amateur competition after his efforts to play for the Netherlands were blocked in the days leading up to the Games.

Luiten, who missed the cut at The Open Championship, did not hold back his feelings about the International Golf Federation (IGF). He had won a court case that would have put him in the tournament, but the IGF revealed that the spot was already taken.

Dutch Golf Star Joost Luiten Blasts Olympic Officials, Calls Them "Amateurs

"I'm the one who is out. I'm the one who is f---ed," he said at the Royal Troon Golf Club in Scotland, via Golf Week. "I'm over it now. I spent a lot of money on a court case to win it. And then you win it, and then they say, ‘F--- it, you’re still not in because someone else f---ed up.’ That’s the annoying thing."

"It’s mistake after mistake after mistake, and no one wants to own up to it. And nobody wants to make it right. And now I’m in a position where I don’t know what to do."

Dutch Golf Star Joost Luiten Blasts Olympic Officials, Calls Them "Amateurs

Luiten called IGF officials a "bunch of amateurs" and said they should make the Olympic golf event an amateur event because of it.

"They should make it for amateurs. For amateurs, it’s the biggest thing in the world. For us, it’s maybe two weeks out of the year. For them, it might be the only chance to play great golf," he said.

Dutch Golf Star Joost Luiten Blasts Olympic Officials, Calls Them "Amateurs

Luiten shot a 75 and a 76 in the first and second rounds, respectively, of The Open Championship.

Initially, Luiten qualified for the Olympics. However, he was prohibited by his home country, the Netherlands, because he was not in the top 100 of the Official World Golf Ranking. Then, the IGF made its decision after he won the court ruling.

"When the International Golf Federation (IGF) received notification of Joost Luiten’s court ruling in the Netherlands and his entry from the Netherlands’ National Olympic Committee (NOC*NSF), his unused quota spot had already been reallocated pursuant to the IGF’s published qualification procedures," the IGF said in a statement.

"The IGF was not a party to the legal action brought forth by Luiten in the Netherlands. Nevertheless, in an effort to support Luiten, the IGF sought an exception from the IOC to increase the field size of the men's Olympic golf competition from 60 to 61 competitors to include Luiten. However, the request was denied by the IOC today. The IGF has advised Luiten of the IOC's decision, and he has not informed the IGF whether he intends to pursue this matter further."

Luiten said Friday that he would instead be taking a vacation in Mallorca, Spain, but could be available should an Olympian drop out at the last minute.

"I have no idea what I’m going to do the next few weeks. I think I’m going to book a vacation for myself to Mallorca. Nice place. I’m going to go there and chill," he said. "I’ll still keep my phone on. You never know. I’ll be ready if someone pulls out."

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has yet to comment on the situation.