Scottie Scheffler fires a stunning 62 to win gold medal in Olympic golf
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World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler fired nine birdies in his final round to clinch the gold medal at the Paris Olympics.
AFP
PARIS – World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler showed why he is the best male golfer on the planet on Aug 4 as he continued a remarkable season of dominance by winning the gold medal at the Paris Olympics.
The American fired nine birdies, including four in his last five holes, for a closing nine-under 62 – also equalling the course record – to overhaul his rivals and claim victory at 19-under 265.
He finished one shot ahead of Britain’s Tommy Fleetwood, who carded a 66 and had to settle for the silver medal.
Hideki Matsuyama took the bronze after a final-round 65 left him on 267. The Japanese, who lost in a play-off for third place at his home Games in Tokyo in 2021, parred his last six holes and looked deflated as he walked off the 18th green, rueing all the missed opportunities.
Scheffler, who has won six times on the PGA Tour in 2024 and captured the US Masters in April, seized his chances.
He might have begun the day four strokes back of compatriot Xander Schauffele and Spaniard Jon Rahm but a stunning 29 on his back nine saw him shoot to the top of the leaderboard at Le Golf National near Paris.
Perhaps the roars from the crowd that accompanied each of Scheffler’s birdies also ramped up the pressure on his rivals.
Overnight leader Rahm, a two-time Major champion himself, had reached 20 under and held a four-shot advantage with eight holes left. He then went bogey, bogey, par, double bogey from holes No. 11-14 and fell out of contention.
He eventually signed for a 70 and was tied-fifth on 269 with Rory McIlroy (66) of Ireland.
McIlroy had staged a late charge, rolling in five birdies in a row to start his back nine and was within contention for a medal, possibly even gold.
However, he then hit his approach into the water at the par-four 15th, the resulting double-bogey ending his chances of any silverware.
Spare a thought too for Fleetwood, who knocked in eight birdies and managed to tie his flightmate Rahm for the lead at the 12th hole.
Another birdie on No. 16 got Fleetwood to 19 under and the co-lead with Scheffler. But the Englishman gave up a shot on the tough par-four 17th after a poor approach and sloppy chip.
Defending champion Schauffele struggled all day and a 73 saw him fall from the overnight lead to a tie for ninth on 272.
Frenchman Victor Perez delighted the home fans with a stunning surge through the field but finished in fourth place on 268 despite his 63, which included a run of four birdies and an eagle in the space of five holes.
