Scottie Scheffler was the center of attention on Sunday as he gave the finest closing round of his career. The last two hours were a dramatic blend of surges and stumbles, culminating in the Olympic gold medal being draped fittingly around his neck.
Scheffler stood atop the podium very focused, and as the last notes of the national anthem echoed across Le Golf National, that was when his composure cracked.
Scheffler raised his left arm to cover his sobs. With the medal dangling from his neck and his right hand across his chest during the national anthem, Scheffler raised his left arm to cover his sobs.
Scheffler is usually not teary-eyed, but this latest win brought out his deepest emotions.
Scheffler birdied five of the last six holes and matched the course record with a 9-under 62, starting the final round four shots behind and trailing by six early on the back nine, getting a one-shot win against Tommy Fleetwood.
It was a wonderful finale, the most thrilling of the three men’s battles since golf came back into the Olympics eight years ago, delighting the 30,000 onlookers.
Scheffler’s amazing progress included a 29 on the back nine. Fleetwood played relentlessly, posting a 66, while Hideki Matsuyama had birdie opportunities on the last six holes but settled for pars, finishing with a 65 to claim the bronze.
Meanwhile, Jon Rahm experienced a shocking collapse, losing a four-shot lead in two holes and fading with a double bogey. Rory McIlroy, just one shot behind, hit a wedge into the water, and Xander Schauffele, the PGA and British Open champion, saw his chance at another gold vanish with a four-hole stretch of 4-over par.
Victor Perez of France, who hit the opening tee shot on Thursday, came within one shot of a medal on Sunday. The crowd serenaded him with “La Marseillaise” on nearly every tee.
The thrilling back nine saw numerous contenders.
Ultimately, it was Scheffler who delivered the standout performance of his stellar year. Already a six-time winner on the PGA Tour this year, including his second Masters title, Scheffler added Olympic gold to his remarkable season with a round that kept the crowd on edge until the end.
Scheffler set an Olympic record for 72 holes at 19-under 265.
He becomes the second consecutive American to win gold in men’s golf, following Schauffele at the Tokyo Games.
The only downside was that Scheffler won while on the practice range, mentally preparing for a playoff that didn’t occur when Fleetwood missed the 18th green and his 100-foot pitch narrowly missed the hole.
