Ultimate spherical recap
To nobody’s shock, Scottie Scheffler claimed one other victory by successful gold within the males’s golf. Nevertheless it was not simple, as he got here from behind to win by one from Nice Britain’s Tommy Fleetwood. Scheffler tied the course document with a nine-under 62.
He began the day 4 again of compatriot Xander Schauffele and Spain’s Jon Rahm, however they each faltered on the again 9. Tommy Fleetwood was the one one within the ultimate group nonetheless in competition coming down the stretch. However the Southport synthetic a pivotal bogey on his penultimate gap and did not birdie the tough 18th to pressure a playoff.
Scottie Scheffler started his ultimate spherical with three birdies in his first three holes to get off to a blisteringly scorching begin. However he then stalled and made par on the remainder of the entrance 9. He moved to the closing 9, coming residence in 29 to set the clubhouse goal.
Fleetwood shut once more
It was sufficient for the gold medal, with Fleetwood once more agonisingly lacking out on the large stage. You may by no means depend Scottie Scheffler out; it was between Rahm and Fleetwood for the golf.
However Rahm blew up on the again 9 whereas Scheffler made a flurry of birdies when it mattered. Scottie’s success and dominance have been well-documented in 2024. However this provides one other win to his 2024 assortment that now consists of The Gamers, The Masters and the gold medal at The Olympics.
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Tommy Fleetwood made a 5-footer on the final to make sure he claimed the silver medal for Nice Britain in a valiant show. Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama, who led independently after spherical one, secured the bronze medal at 17-under par. It was a compelling ultimate spherical, and several other huge names had been in with a shout of the medal. However solely three individuals might get one on the finish of 72 holes.
Residence favorite Victor Perez received the native French followers in attendance riled up late on. He shot a ultimate spherical 63, however he simply missed out on the medals by one. Gamers praised the audible help from the entire followers at Le Golf Nationwide, and a few likened it to a major championship really feel.
Golf is at residence within the Olympics
Golf’s return to the Olympics in 2016 was questioned not simply by golf followers and the media but in addition by the final media. Does it need to be an Olympic sport? Ought to one thing else be instead? However, after its third run since returning, it has produced entertaining endings and gained reputation from informal sports activities followers. The standard of golf on show and the followers’ involvement illustrated golf’s deserved place as an Olympic sport for years to come back.
The 2018 Ryder Cup venue proved becoming, with the ladies taking centre stage on Wednesday as their competitors will get underway. Nonetheless, the course has selection and the fitting stability of threat and reward. To an extent, America received a small revenge because the USA gained gold after dropping to Europe in 2018.
In a wider scope, America has now swept all 4 majors this yr and the Olympics—ostensibly the 5 greatest occasions in skilled golf in 2024. They’re in a interval of dominance with their in depth expertise, making it exhausting for others to maintain up. Scottie Scheffler and Xander Schauffele have been on the forefront of that, primarily as a result of Xander, who gained gold in Tokyo, gained 50% of the majors this calendar yr.
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Scottie vs the sphere
Tommy Fleetwood and Rory Mcilroy had been flying the flag for Europe this week. Jon Rahm, they usually had been outdueled once more by the unstoppable Scheffler. After solely successful one main at The Masters in April, it was mentioned whether or not Scottie had wasted some of the constant years ever. Despite the fact that he might be over the moon along with his win this week and was emotional on the rostrum when receiving his medal, his failure to win a couple of main can nonetheless be considerably scrutinised.
A glance to the longer term
The FedEx Cup playoffs are subsequent as much as spherical off 2024 on the PGA Tour, and you wouldn’t guess towards Scottie Scheffler successful that as properly. However many of the status golf motion is over till The Masters subsequent spring. It’s a well-earned low season for the sport’s greatest, however from a viewing perspective, it’s exhausting to have to attend so lengthy till we see the elite compete towards one another as soon as once more.
Though 4 years away, the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles have chosen Riviera Nation Membership because the venue for the Males’s and Ladies’s occasions. It’s a course that gamers are acquainted with on Tour and some of the extremely rated programs within the States.
Tiger Woods’ course, which hosts the Genesis in February, might be on show in mid-summer—giving golf followers one thing to sit up for on the subsequent Video games, the place Scheffler might be in his residence nation to defend his title. Nonetheless, one factor that nobody can ever take away from him is his gold medal, which suggests probably the most to him.
Photograph by Freddie Collins on Unsplash