Shane Lowry's Olympics gets underway this morning | Westmeath ...

Shane Lowry's Olympic medal quest starts today.

The Olympic men's individual golf competition is already underway and Lowry is due to tee off his first round at 10.44am

The men's competition sees 60 competitors (two of whom are representing Ireland as Rory McIlroy is also taking part).

This will be the third time golf has been on the Olympic programme since its return at Rio 2016.

It's a stiff field with World No 1 Scottie Scheffler joined by reigning Olympic gold medallist Xander Schauffele - who recently grabbed is second Major of the year, adding The Open to his PGA Championship title.

The format for golf is a 72-hole individual stroke play event, over four days. Unlike most tournaments, there is no halfway cut so all 60 men should play all four rounds.

The golf tournament is taking place at Le Golf National, in Guyancourt south-west of Paris, hosts the Open de France on the DP World Tour and staged the 2018 Ryder Cup.