Scottie Scheffler came from four shots back to win the Olympic gold medal at Le Golf National on Sunday.
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In a great Olympic final round on Sunday, World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler came from behind to steal the Olympic gold medal.
Starting the day four shots behind leaders Xander Schauffele and Jon Rahm at Le Golf National, Scheffler carded nine birdies after six birdies to shoot a 9-under 62 and take the title from Tommy Fleetwood of the US England finished second to win the silver medal. , with Hideki Matsuyama earning bronze for Japan.
But in the first half of Sunday's final, the reigning Masters champion was an afterthought, trailing the leaders as other stars initially looked destined for the podium.
Scottie Scheffler couldn't help but wonder how much he had won
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The 54-hole leaders started consistently with pars on the first two holes, but it didn't take long for them to catch fire. Both Schauffele and Rahm matched each other with back-to-back birdies on the par-5 3rd and par-4 4th to reach 16 under, and playing partner Fleetwood ran his birdie streak to three straight holes at one time to improve to 15 under. .
Meanwhile, Matsuyama, who shot even on Saturday, got off to a flying start with three birdies in his first five holes on Sunday to get back into contention at 14 under. But he wasn't finished there. Matsuyama rolled in a 10-footer for another birdie on the 6th to get within one shot of the lead.
On 4 6, Schauffele hit his way inside Rahm's. But Rahm birdied his third birdie of the day. When Schauffele's birdie try from close range burned the edge, Rahm was in the lead alone at 17 under.
After Rahm recorded two more birdies at 7 and 9 to close the front 9, and Schauffele made a bogey at 8, the Spanish star and two-time major champion began to move out of the pack.
But while the distance between Rahm and Schauffele grew, the other two players were desperately trying to keep up with Rahm. Fleetwood, who was three under on nine, added another birdie at the 11th. Meanwhile, two birdies on the back-nine moved Hideki Matsuyama to six holes at 12 under, leaving them both tied for second at 17 under.
Just when it looked like the gold medal was going to be won by Rahm, his cruise control was shut down with back-to-back bogeys on 11 and 12. After Rahm's putt at 12 narrowly missed, Fleetwood rolled in a birdie, and came up. with Rahm's four-shot advantage gone, both players are tied at 18 under.
Rory McIlroy, who appeared to be out of contention when Rahm took the lead on the back nine, opened his own back nine with four consecutive birdies, suddenly moving him to 16 just two shots off the lead. A birdie at the tap after a long eagle at 16 – his fifth birdie in a row – pushed him to within one of the lead.
McIlroy's brief case would be undone when his approach shot on the 15th hole hit the putt and rolled back into the pond guarding the green, resulting in a double bogey.
But neither McIlroy nor Rahm were getting loud roars from fans at Le Golf National. These were reserved for Victor Perez of France. From the 12th hole, Perez caught fire in front of a raucous French crowd, went under five of his holes to reach 16 under and officially entered the race for a medal, maybe even a variety of gold.
Throughout the day, Scheffler hung around quietly waiting for his chance to strike, and when Rahm started to waver, he struck.
Starting on the par-5 14th, the reigning Masters champion reeled off three consecutive birdies to tie Rahm and Fleetwood for the lead at 18 under.
Scheffler's case will be aided by the final play of the par-5 14th hole. Rahm hit a poor second shot that found its way deep to the left of the green. Fleetwood got a cruel break when his second shot landed on the collar of the bunker, creating a difficult situation and communication situation.
Standing on the tee minutes before, both players were hoping to make birdie, and Fleetwood managed to sink at least a 5-footer to save par and stay tied with Scheffler at 18 under. Rahm, on the other hand, played dirty, missing a short 6-putt to record a double bogey, dropping him to 16 under.
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On the treacherous 17th hole, Scheffler missed his shot deep to the left of the fairway, threatening his claim to the gold medal. But with a powerful thwack the World No. 1 not only reached the green in control but made a good birdie layup to take the lead. An uphill 17-footer was all the way, and with a fist pump Scheffler moved into sole possession of the lead at 19 under.
But Fleetwood wasn't going down without a fight. The English champion stuck his shot on the par-3 16th, then sank a 9-footer to join Scheffler atop the leaderboard with two holes to play.
Scheffler had just one hole left to make his case. His tee shot at 18 ended up badly near the fairway bunker, but once again Scheffler used his incredible shooting skills, reaching the green with his second shot and opening another birdie opportunity. This, however, was a curved downhill putt. Scheffler ran his birdie a few feet past the hole. But he made a comebacker to complete his 62 to post a 19-under par.
Fleetwood was the last player with a chance to match or surpass Scheffler. He missed his tee shot at 17 in the rough, then watched as his shot went off the back of the green. A squirrely chip from there sent his ball past the hole. And a putt-putt bogey ended his gold medal hopes.
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