Steady Xander Schauffele ties for Olympic golf lead with Hideki Matsuyama, Tommy Fleetwood

GUYANCOURT – Xander Schauffele kept his title defence alive, as the American joined Hideki Matsuyama and Tommy Fleetwood in the lead at the halfway stage of the men’s golf competition on Aug 2, unperturbed by a brush with an anthill when he strayed into the rough.

Matsuyama, leading playing partner Fleetwood by one stroke heading down the last, hit his third shot on the par-four into the water before holing an excellent 12-foot putt to avoid a triple-bogey.

The Japanese overnight leader had to settle for a three-under 68 and an 11-under 131 total at Le Golf National.

Britain’s Fleetwood missed a par putt on the final green to move atop the leaderboard on his own, but had already done enough to surge into contention with a seven-under 64.

The 33-year-old, who has never won a Major title despite a series of near-misses, showed off his expertise around the Albatros course with an eagle and six birdies.

Fleetwood won a record-breaking four points alongside Francesco Molinari in Europe’s 2018 Ryder Cup win at the same venue, where he was also victorious in the 2017 French Open.

Meanwhile, in-form Schauffele, who won July’s British Open to claim his second Major title in 2024, again brushed off some occasional poor shots to keep his score ticking over.

“If you do hit a bad shot, it’s easier to accept it because you know you’re playing really good golf and you can make it up somewhere else,” he said after his round.

Hitting the rough along the 13th fairway, he discovered his ball was lying on an anthill and sought advice from tournament officials before hacking his way on towards a bogey.

“I’ve had burrowing animal issues but not like an antpile that you can’t really move,” he said.

The 60 contenders will all play four rounds in a strokeplay format.

France had a mixed day, with the country’s top-ranked player Matthieu Pavon slipping to four over, while Victor Perez stayed within touch of the leaders at five under.

Two-time Major champion Jon Rahm carded a 66 to sit just two shots off the leading trio in fourth place.

“It has been a great day. I didn’t need anything spectacular,” said the Spaniard.

South Korean rising star Tom Kim (68), Belgium’s Thomas Detry (63) and Chinese Taipei’s Pan Cheng-tsung (65), who won the bronze in Tokyo, are tied at eight under as just three shots separate the top seven players.

The highlight of Kim’s day was a perfect bunker shot on the third hole which dropped into the cup for eagle.

American star Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy, representing Ireland, both struggled to consistently find their best form, but battled hard to stay in the medal hunt.

World No. 1 Scheffler lurks just five shots behind the leaders after a two-under 69. McIlroy is six strokes adrift after also carding a 69.
REUTERS, AFP