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Emotional Scheffler secures dramatic Olympic gold in Paris
04 Aug 24
3 mins
Scottie Scheffler produced a spectacular course record-equalling 62 at Le Golf National to emerge from a star-studded leaderboard and win gold at the Olympic men’s golf competition.
On a thrilling final day on the outskirts of Paris, the American was flawless from start to finish as he surged to victory with a devastating back-nine 29 to underline his status as the world number one. Tommy Fleetwood of Great Britain fell just short of emulating Rio 2016 gold medalist Justin Rose as a closing 66 saw him settle for silver, one shot behind at 18-under. Two-time Asia-Pacific Amateur Champion and 2021 Masters winner Hideki Matsuyama of Japan rounded out the podium finishers with bronze, finishing a shot further back.
England's Tommy Fleetwood finished one shot back of Scheffler to win silver after a dropped shot on 17 scuppered his gold medal challenge.
Victor Perez delighted the home French crowds with a brilliant final-round 63 to finish fourth, with Rory McIlroy of Ireland and Spain’s Jon Rahm at 15 under.
Scheffler trailed overnight co-leaders Xander Schauffele – who was targeting back-to-back golds – and Rahm by four shots but showed his pedigree to follow up a fast start with an electric finish that included a run of four straight birdies from the 14th.
The victory is Scheffler’s seventh title of a remarkable season, that already included his second major triumph and second Green Jacket at the Masters Tournament in April.
Fleetwood held a share of the lead with Scheffler on the 17th tee but a miscued chip shot from behind the green proved costly as he was unable to find a birdie at the last to force a play-off.
Two-time Asia-Pacific Amateur Champion and 2021 Masters winner Hideki Matsuyama went one better than his performance in the Tokyo Games and picked up a bronze medal on his second Olympics appearance.
Matsuyama, who held a share of the halfway lead, lost ground on Saturday with a level-par 71 but he bounced back in style to close with a bogey-free 65 to medal in his second Olympics.
Earlier in the day, Rahm seemed on track to win gold for Spain as he opened up a four-shot lead around the turn but back-to-back bogeys at the 11th and 12th thwarted his momentum. A double-bogey seven at the 14th further hurt his hopes before he missed out on the podium altogether with back-to-back bogeys on his final two holes.
His Ryder Cup teammate McIlroy finished alongside him after a spirited closing 66, with a double bogey at the 15th when he found water with his approach ultimately ending his chance of a medal.