Photo: Photosport / Steven Flynn
Many of the world's top golfers are chasing a medal at Le Golf National in Guyancourt near Paris - among them Kiwis Ryan Fox and Daniel Hillier.
Hillier played the French Open on the same course last year and says the players will have to be on top of their game once the first round starts tonight.
"If you're slightly off you'll get punished."
The Olympics was different because everyone was chasing just three medals.
"Usually you walk out into a tournament and you knock off a top ten [finish] and you're pretty happy with your work.
"It's pretty cut-throat in that regard but you've got to finish in the top three to earn anything for your country. If you do manage that it's a pretty amazing achievement."
All the golfers would be adjusting their game plans slightly to give themselves the best chance of a podium finish, Hillier says.
Meanwhile, the Football Ferns have lost their Group A match 2-1 against France at the Olympic Games in Paris this morning.
The New Zealanders finished bottom of the group while France are top and advance to the quarterfinals.
Last night Hamish Wilde won New Zealand's second medal of the Games - silver in the men's triathlon.
Follow the latest developments with RNZ's live blog:
