Agonising silver for Tommy Fleetwood as Scottie Scheffler charges to Olympic gold

Chosen by us to get you up to speed at a glance
There is no disgrace in silver, particularly when the best player in the world has shot a final-round 62 and the quality of leaderboard is one of the highest in living memory.
Team GB’s Tommy Fleetwood was ultimately forced to bow to the extraordinary talent of Scottie Scheffler, who was such an appropriate gold medalist in what could one day be viewed as a truly notable week for professional male game.
Fleetwood announced that standing on the podium was “the most amazing moment of my career”, but of course there was despair mixed in with the pride, after he failed to replicate the success of Justin Rose, who won gold on the sports’ comeback after a 112-year absence in 2016.
Fleetwood, the world No 14, was so close not only to beating the world No 1, but also a collection of superstars including Jon Rahm, who looked the champion for so long on an excruciating Sunday, and Rory McIlroy, who reeled off five birdies to put himself in contention on the back nine.
However, after he holed a 10-footer for a birdie on the 16th that took him level with Scheffler, who was then already in with his 19-under total, Fleetwood pulled his drive on the treacherous 17th and despite hitting a fine recovery from the rough, it disappeared over the back into the collar between the thick rough and the run-off. It was a horrible chip to take on at that stage and it duly rolled 20 feet past.
The bogey meant he was one behind and, although he believed he might have holed the chip on the 18th to enforce a play-off, it squeezed past. The 33-year-old actually fared well to hole the six-footer coming back or else he would have been involved in a sudden-death shootout with Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama, who picked up bronze. And Fleetwood, with his courageous 66, deserved better at the course where he starred in the 2018 Ryder Cup and where he won the French Open, adding this runner-up placing to those he gained in the 2018 US Open and the 2019 Open.
“Part of me is a little disappointed, and yes, there were a few tears,” Fleetwood said. “But at the same time I never dreamed I’d be an Olympian, and I’m unbelievably proud to be an Olympic medallist. I gave it my best shot, and I’ve said before that the atmosphere and support has been just incredible here. If you don’t enjoy occasions like this, you won’t get much joy from the game of golf. This has been an unbelievable experience, one I’ll remember for the rest of my life.”
In contrast, Rahm was utterly distraught. After the Spaniard had played the first 10 holes in six-under, he was four shots clear with eight holes to go. It was his to throw away and blimey, he did exactly that, bogeying the 11th and 12th, before a car-wrecking double-bogey seven on the par-five 14th, where he took four to get down from just off the green.
Bogeys on the 17th and 18th meant the LIV man missed out on the prize-giving altogether, an unfathomable notion just 90 minutes earlier. He was devastated.
“I don’t remember playing a tournament and feeling like this,” he said. “I not only feel like I let myself down but to just not get it done for the whole country of Spain, it’s a lot more painful than I would like. I’m getting a taste of how much it really mattered.”
They were all saying the same. McIlroy, in fifth after a 66, declared it was the best event he had played in, apart from the Ryder Cup and Fleetwood was just as gushing.  “Even though I didn’t win gold, a very good golfer did,” he said “I think golf showcased itself amazingly well this week, and we finished up with a great leaderboard.”
And Scheffler did what Scheffler does, almost shrugging his shoulders when asked what it means for his legacy. In truth, there were waterworks from the Texan as well and there should be plenty more when he reflects on a campaign which has, so far, featured him winning seven times, with the Masters and Players titles about to have another illustrious companion in the trophy cabinet.
He played the back nine in six-under and Rahm summed up the absurd majesty under that pressure best of all.  “I mean, nine-under is a joke of a round around here,” Rahm said. “But it’s not surprising at this point that Scottie is doing any of this.”
Just as the argument that golf has no place in the Olympics can be consigned to the dustbin after this, so can the debate of who is Player of the Year. By winning The Open two weeks ago after prevailing at the USPGA two months before, Xander Schauffele thrust himself into the conversation, but after the defending Olympic champion struggled in this fourth round – in a share of the overnight lead he inexplicably fired a 73 to come ninth – Scheffler has removed all doubt.
“I would say first and foremost I’m proud of the country I’m from. I’m proud to be American. I got emotional the other night watching the Gold Medal ceremony for the women’s gymnastics,” he said. “For me, it was just very emotional being up there on stage there as the flag is being raised and I’m singing the National Anthem. Yes, that’s definitely one I’ll remember for a long time.” Everyone will.
It was nothing less than a stoic effort from the Southport man – suffice to say it’s been a week full of distraction in that context for him –  as he lined up in the final group in a provisional third place alongside Spain’s Rahm and USA’s Schauffele, two men with significantly larger major title pedigree than him. Fleetwood was doing battle with the big dogs, having never won a PGA Tour title before – this is one of the best performances of his career and both a gratifying but agonising result. 
Once Scheffler’s score of -19 was confirmed, Fleetwood’s golf became noticably tense where previously he’d excelled in the context of Rahm and Schauffele’s capitulations. A drive into the rough on 17, and inaccurate approach on 18 were the pivotal moments. 
His most exemplary golf came on day two, when he followed a day one 67 with 64, finishing the tournament with a 69, then 66 today, leaving him 18 under par. Credit must go to his nerve to hole the putt on the 18th, having had his hopes shattered with a cruelly close chip, he had a far-from-simple putt to ensure he got his silver, and not a bronze medal play off that would have served as a harsh kick in the teeth. 
He joins his mate Justin Rose as an Olympic medalist for Great Britain, but it’s a silver where Rose took gold.
Scottie Scheffler’s comeback is one for the ages, he was one of the possibles rather than the probables coming into today’s fourth and final round. He birdied his first three and seemed dangerous, but fell to the wayside as he parred the next six as Jon Rahm built a seemingly insurmountable lead – going into the 11th, Rahm was six clear of the eventual champion, and four clear of Schauffele in second, whose own collapse saw him drop to tied ninth on -12.
However, a scintillating back nine that saw him come in six under from the last nine, including four consecutive birdies from holes 14 to 17. 
He shot a four-under-par 67 on day one, then 69 and 67 on days two and three, before a course record equaling 62 to finish 19 under par.
5 foot from the hole, similar line to Rahm’s putt so he’ll have a good read. But Rahm misses – he’s dropped six, yes six, in the back nine.
And he gets it!! A thoroughly deserved silver for Great Britain’s Tommy Fleetwood. There’s no shame in losing to the world number one.
Rahm misses his birdie putt to draw level with Matsuyama, the Japanese now guaranteed a medal. Spectacular capitulation from the Spaniard. 
Go onnnn go on go on no! He misses, Scheffler wins gold. Magnificent chip but not enough, putt for silver now…
He approaches the green with a real mix of emotions on his face. He’s not written off yet but looks slightly subdued, as well as appreciative for the considerable support he’s getting from the packed out crowd. 
… is an anti-climax, he misses the green long and left, landing on the darker patches 34 yards from the pin. He needs a serious bit of short-game to guarantee silver at this point. Rahm is similarly inaccurate. Absolute miracle required for a gold play off. 
This 18th is a 465 yard par 4, Fleetwood lays up 195 yards from the hole, flirting uncomfortably with the rough. By the muted crowd reaction and limited view from the tee box, he might think he is in the rough. I’m really not enjoying myself right now.
What a round by Scottie Scheffler. That 62 is why he is the world No 1. Tied with Tommy Fleetwood on 19-under, but the Englishman is falters on the treacherous 17th.
Meanwhile Scheffler’s on the range. Incredibly tense. 
Is that the gold there? His chip was overhit, and a birdie is needed for a gold medal play off. A par needed for silver. Agonising for the Briton.
Rahm misses his par putt too, and see the above for his bronze chances. Genuinely unbelievable given his four stroke lead at the 10th. Lining up for the 11th, it felt like it was going to be a procession for him. 
A nervous wait for Rahm to come through awaits to see if he will medal. He lipped out on his birdie putt. 
…On -15. He’d been on the charge but his double bogey on 15 was costly, and he misses out on an Olympic medal.
Excruciating doesn’t cover it. Fleetwood connects too well with his approach from the rough and passes over the green, he needs a chip and a putt to par the hole and remain level going into the last. 
A playoff looms in the event of a draw. 
Tommy Fleetwood said at the start of the week that his favourite memory from the 2018 Ryder was when Francesco Molinari beat Phil Mickelson in the singles to ensure Europe won the match. 
That came on the 16th. Fleetwood has just birdied the same par three to join Scottie Schfefler on 19-under. The tension here is excruciating.
Fleetwood is in the rough from his drive though…
Scheffler pars on the 18th, drama! He therefore sets a clubhouse lead of -19, equaling the course record and falling short of the Olympic one by a shot. All on you, Tommy Fleetwood.
Nerves of steel I daresay at the moment! Fleetwood level! Onto Scheffler’s birdie putt on the 18th then we’ll provide a scoreboard update. 
And he’s back on -17, Matsuyama might regret his miss. A putt like that could do all sorts of funny things to a player’s confidence.
Emphatically! He attacks from the rough on 18, and has a putt for birdie. If he takes it, his clubhouse lead will be a multi-record breaking -20.
Matsuyama meanwhile misses his birdie putt so stays in bronze.
Fleetwood responds on the 16th, a par 3 surrounded by water and he lands nine feet from the hole! Matsuyama, on the 17th meanwhile, has put himself in good position for a birdie that would draw him level with Fleetwood on -18. Given the Schauffele and Rahm collapses and Scheffler charge, the Japanese’s excellent round has unfairly fallen under the radar.
…You’d think. He pars on the 15th, leaving him on -16 thru 15. Extraordinary collapse from a man usually so composed.
The 15th is fraught with danger, water surrounding the green, which Schauffele, who is now level par on -14 overall today, landed in. Fleetwood did well to par, especially now Scheffler is in the rough and facing a tough decision whether to attack the pin or lay-up.
Scheffler birdies on the 17th and gives the first big celebration of the day. He moves to -19, pressure on Fleetwood on the 15th. That’s Scheffler’s ninth birdie of the round, scrambled from a tee shot into the rough. 
A remarkable back nine from the Frenchman, shooting an eight-under-par 63 to set a lead of -16. He shot a 29 back nine from a par 35, eagling on the 14th where many of the pack leaders suffered. Given the magnitude of Rahm’s capitulation so far, don’t write him off from a medal….
Remarkable collapse from Rahm. Was four clear. Now two behind. Le Golf National is that sort of course.
 Fleetwood has a huge opportunity here, but at the moment the home crowd is going totally “ooh, la, la” for their very own Victor Perez, who could post a decent number and set the target.
Aside from Rahm, who has led all day to this point, all of golf’s finest are all turning up now, a third straight birdie draws Scheffler level on top before Rahm and Fleetwood putt from their difficult approaches on the 14th. 
And Rahm misses a simple putt for bogey, it’s +2 to his score and he’s at risk of falling off the podium! Fleetwood scrambles par, and he’s level with Scheffler on -18, a hole in hand!
Drama! In ascention for a medal, McIlroy plays riskily and attacks the pin on the 15th, despite the extremely small wiggle room short of the pin. He lands just short of the green and his ball dribbles into the water, his tendency to slip up in the last third of the round continues.
Meanwhile, both leaders are in trouble, finding the rough on the 14th, which should’ve been a good chance to score on the par five – it’s where Perez made eagle.
Fleetwood’s lie is horrible, much worse than Rahm, but the Spaniard cloths it! The ball rolls back down the bank of the green. If you needed an idea of how much this Olympic title means, this is it!
That’s his first par for six holes, he’ll have to settle for merely equaling the course record should he birdie next hole. 
It does, however, allow Scheffler to overtake him, the American capitalising on a wonderful tee shot on the par three 16th to move onto -17, joint second. 
A piece of misfortune for Matsuyama, the incumbent bronze medalist. His wood approach shot takes a cruel bounce and flies into the rough, leaving the door open to McIlroy. His chip in is good enough, but McIlroy is putting for eagle… It’s a great effort, but misses short and sets him up for a birdie, he’s really recovered from an average front nine. 
In the final group, Schauffele’s capitulation continues with another bogey, whilst Fleetwood and Rahm both take par on the 12th. 
McIlroy is joined on -16 by France’s Victor Perez, who is on a rampage on his run-in to the clubhouse. He’s six under par thru seven holes of this back nine, eight under par in the round, the crowd cheering each of his putts with increasing glee. Birdies in both of the last holes will see him break the course record and finish on a statement score of -18.
Rahm is capitulating a bit here and pressure is coming from every direction! McIlroy birdies for the fourth consecutive and is within two of the lead now. Perez also birdies, a medal might be tough for him but it’s certainly helping build the atmosphere as we approach the final six!
Fleetwood steps up first next hole and nails his tee shot as Scheffler continues to struggle. Must’ve borrowed my clubs because he can’t find a fairway at present. Rahm does though, a chance to reset.
Rahm’s lie from his approach is fairly horrible, and it produces a second straight bogey, the door is open! Immediately after Matsuyama misses a birdie to level with the Spaniard, but Fleetwoooooodddddd makes it!! 
Joint top for the Briton on -18! Two holes ago Rahm had a four shot lead! 
Fleetwood is continuing to impress, a superb tee shot on the 12th allowing him to approach within eight feet of the hole. Sublime. Schauffele, meanwhile, is in deep conversation with his caddie as he hits out of some really thick rough, he connects well but just finds more rough, this could be pivotal for the American’s medal hopes.
Rahm in the bunker has a nice lie all considered, but narrowly misses the green. Fleetwood well on top, which is just as well for him with Matsuyama hitting more birdies in front to draw level on -17…
 
Further up the course on hole 14, France’s home hero Victor Perez nails an eagle, that will catch the eye of the leaders as they approach that hole. He’s had a brilliant back nine in front of his home crowd so far, and is six under on day four. 
Intriguing! He’s usually so unflappable but the Olympics does do this to athletes. The Spaniard can feel GB’s Fleetwood breathing down his neck.
A lovely putt from the Merseyside man on a turbulent green for birdie on the par three, he moves into 2nd on -17! A lovely tee shot gave Schauffele a straightforward birdie putt and he duly obliges, moving him into joint third with Matsuyama on -16.
And Rahm bogeys! Remarkably misses his par putt and his lead from before the hole is halved! Big hole next to steady a ship.
Meanwhile, McIlroy is on the charge and lands an approach shot within what I call a gimme from the pin, but my scorecard calls a two-putt. His assault on the podium continues.
Or not as you were, as McIlroy and Rahm both sink birdies! Rahm’s lead is at four strokes, he’s 20 under par now, ridiculous! McIlroy moves within touching distance of bronze, trailing by two…
…But it could’ve been extended! Moments after Matsuyama misses a putt for birdie, Fleetwood sees his lip out! Schauffele misjudges his line for birdie too.
As you were, then
 
Jon Rahm has jumped three shots clear, but plenty can happen on the risk-and-reward back nine at Le Golf National. 
One of the interesting subplots is Tom Kim, who is currently one shot outside a medal. If the 22-year-old can get onto the podium, he will be spared national service in South Korea. Now that is pressure.
Fleetwood putts, his fifth birdie of the round leaving him four under thru the front nine! Schauffele putts for par so we have a new set of standings in the provisional medal table…
Only Rahm is able to hit the green on the approach shots, and has a long putt for eagle. Given Matsuyama’s par, it’s silver advantage Fleetwood, his approach just dropping off the bank of the green, and his chip is good enough. 
Scheffler, on the other hand, finds the rough, and his chip is lucky to stay on the slope of the green’s banking. He puts up the hill and leaves work to do…
Matsuyama had the chance to assert himself in a medal position but his chip gives him too much to do, and he putts in for par, over to you Schauffele and Fleetwood…
In that context this par five ninth hole feels like a pivotal one. Matsuyama is the first of the provisional medalists to go and attacks the pin on his second shot, but pushes it past a narrow front of the green, so will have to chip in.
Behind him, the final group tee off and Rahm smashes his driver, flushing it and turning back to his caddie without feeling the need to look, he’s on a roll. 
You know when it’s just your day? I wouldn’t but Jon Rahm certainly does!! The chip from the rough is exemplary and he putts for par from 16 feet! And Schauffele misses!! His approach was off the green but not in the rough, but he misses a straight forward putt, Rahm three in the lead!
There’s a birdie for Fleetwood too! So he draws joint second alongside the world number one, and Matsuyama up ahead, crucial few moments!
Horrible shot off the tee, skewing left of the pin into some thick rough, the lie will be a challenge to say the least. Fleetwood’s shot is better and can putt for a birdie that he really needs to make with Matsuyama sitting pretty on -15, four under for the round. 
That’s thanks to his fourth birdie in five holes. The Spaniard is hot at the moment and is now on 18-under, leading Schauffele by two. 
Fleetwood, meanwhile, does drop a shot and moves back to 14-under. 
It goes without saying that Greg Norman, the LIV chief executive, would dearly love to have the Olympic champion on his breakaway league. The Australian has been here in Paris this week, supporting his men. 
But if Jon Rahm can convert this lead – the Spaniard is one clear of Xander Schauffele with 12 holes remaining – this will be very much a story of personal joy. 
He only won his first title of the season – and the first since his Masters glory in April 2023 – last Sunday  at the LIV tournament in Uttoxeter and has had to face continued questions whether jumping ship in a £400 million deal had proved costly for his game. A gold would be Rahm’s answer.
The Englishman’s drive finds the right rough. It’s in the deep stuff, and he does well to muscle the approach out. But that shot finds the left bunker and he might well struggle to make par from there. Meanwhile, in the same group leader Rahm stiffs his approach to a few feet. 
McIlroy knocks in his fifth par of the day, missing a 16 foot putt for birdie. Perhaps more importantly, though, Scheffler pars up ahead whilst Matsuyama misses a birdie to move into outright third, the ball looking off the moment it hit the club face. Chance for Fleetwood to solidify…
The Spaniard birdies from 23 feet! Outstanding, that shot from the rough on four has really produced some momentum. And his lead is consolidated as Schauffele’s putt breaks just millimetres from the hole, advantage Rahm with 12 to play!
Scheffler has just slowed down a bit here, the birdies becoming pars now after an electric opening three holes. He sits on 13 under par, one ahead of McIlroy and one below Matsuyama in the hunt for a podium.
Fleetwood continues to play with a straight bat…
Matsuyama is quietly having an excellent morning – four under thru six, he draws level with Fleetwood, which could explain why he is holding himself back really attacking the two in his group. He’ll need to attack now, though, with his bronze now compromised. 
Rahm misses his putt for birdie, the ball holding its line frustratingly. That means the leaders remain Rahm and Schauffele from Fleetwood.
McIlroy, meanwhile, is struggling with his approach game, as he sends the ball into some more long grass, most uncharacteristic of him. The scramble again is near-enough exemplary – like the last hole heading towards the cup but this time breaking right to save par. Birdies of course at a premium though and he trails a medal position by three. He in fact trails Hojgaard and Matsuyama in his group, and Scheffler ahead of him.
Absolutely wonderful shot from Rahm with the ball quite far below his feet, leaving himself with a manageable 19 foot putt for birdie. Schauffele’s gives much more work to do, giving Fleetwood a great opportunity to attack…
…But he plays it safe, Rahm even landing within him, so it looks like a missed opportunity for Fleetwood, but you never know. That Rahm shot was outrageous though, it’s not healthy for me and my long lasting affinity with the rough to be watching shots like that.
Further up the course Scheffler misses a good chance for a birdie, his ball teasing him with a 360 round the cup. 
McIlroy begs his approach on the fifth to sit, and it obeys enough to avoid the bunker on the back of the green. His chip looks as though it might go in, the line is perfect, but there’s not enough on it so he’ll par to stay on -12.
Behind him, Fleetwood has another chance as his wood off the tee finds the fairway but is followed by shots that find roughs either side by Rahm then Schauffele. Rahm’s is in some thick rough, Schauffele’s not so bad. Scheffler’s relentlessly good iron game continues on six.
Schauffele steps up from 27 feet… that’s outstanding! Pressure on, no problem, same goes for Rahm! Both of them nailing the weight on their putts as they spill slowly into the cup. Fleetwood is unphased by the putting clinic before him and scores the birdie his approach shot deserved.
A sublime high draw approach shot from Tommy Fleetwood leaves him just six feet from the hole. Rahm, and particularly Schauffele, have tougher putts to birdie the fourth, so this could be an early statement for the Briton…
Birdies all round on three for the leaders. The disadvantage of going last is there is some decent pressure on holes like this when so many before are putting for eagle, but all three hold firm. Meanwhile, McIlroy scrambles a par with an excellent approach shot from the lip of a fairway bunker and a two-putt. 
Tidy golf all round leaving Rahm and Schauffele in the lead and Fleetwood keeping Scheffler at bay.
But he’s lucky not to be in the bunker off his drive. The lie is far from favourible. Behind him on the much simpler hole three, Fleetwood and Rahm are right on the edge of the green for their eagle putts, Schauffele with an easier but nonetheless tough putt too. The two leaders are still equal so need birdies here, as Scheffler is piling on the pressure.
He has just missed a putt for a fourth straight birdie from four, though, so there is some breathing room and an opportunity for Fleetwood to create some space. 
Superb eagle putt for McIlroy from 43 feet out there, he nailed the line but falls about half a metre from the hole, unlucky. Shortly before, Jason Day shows frustration with a par having birdied holes two and three. 
With ground already to make up – Scheffler three under thru three this morning – Fleetwood attacks the pin on the par three second hole well. McIlroy meanwhile dissects Matsuyama and Hojgaard’s drives with a 320 yard effort down the fairway on hole three. Scheffler had a chance at eagle there but missed – McIlroy has a great platform to improve on that put his approach is pin high and leaves a lot to do. 
Schauffele hits the rough on two but his chip is sublime to scramble par, as Fleetwood putts for birdie, his ball flirting with lipping out. A par for Rahm. 
 
A great tee shot is let down by an approach into the rough for Tommy Fleetwood. His chip is good enough, but his par putt breaks right, meaning he’s back to 12 under. Rahm and Schauffele in for par with some tidy long-range putts. 
Rory McIlroy has just birdied the first and his gameplan will be simple. He has played the front nine well all week, going through the first three rounds in nine-under. But he was only one-under on the back nine.  
In contrast, Jon Rahm was five-under going out for his three rounds and nine-under coming back. 
McIlroy must sort out the mistakes on his way back to the clubhouse or else his medal challenge will be over.
Opting to putt in a similar position from which Scheffler chipped in just off the green, McIlroy is in for par. 
Lovely putt from McIlroy, but an even lovelier chip by Scheffler with Rory’s cheers in the background not disrupting his shot for birdie on two. All of McIlroy’s group were on the same line for their putt which likely helped him given he landed inside Matsuyama. 
Hojgaard pars though! He had the shortest of the putts but misses. Meanwhile, Fleetwood attacks the green first but pulls the shot left into the rough – there’s not much space to play with on the pin’s left. Schauffele goes right of the flag as a reaction.
Rahm, the Schauffele, then Fleetwood, the Briton is in some extremely esteemed company. No one has hit more fairways and greens in regulation then Rahm this weeek, and he does so once more. As does Schauffele, as does Fleetwood.
Ahead of the Irishman, Thomas Detry struggles at hole one. His approach shot landed him in some sloped rough, and with the water beyond the pin his chip is too tentative, and he slides right under the ball. A two-putt sees him double-bogey, whilst Scheffler and Day take birdies. Three days of hard work and his medal aspirations most likely scuppered within one hole.
Off goes McIlroy, following Hojgaard then Matsuyama. Reminder that Hojgaard was just two under par after the first two rounds, but his course record-equalling round yesterday has catapulted him right into contention. 
Straight down the middle for McIlroy, as with Hojgaard – Matsuyama in the rough. 
McIlroy was one of four on -10 coming into the day, the other three being world number one Scottie Scheffler, Tom Kim and Thomas Detry, who are teeing off right now. Scheffler has been very consistent, shooting two 67s either side of a 69 on this par 71, but of course has ground to make up today. 
There are five below them on -9 who are under way today, C.T. Pan and Thorbjorn Olesen having already shot birdies – the latter taking a lesser spotted three on the first hole par four, the former birdieing holes two and three. 
As mentioned, Fleetwood has expressed his gratitude that the tournament has been so competitive – there are seven of the world’s top 15 sat within this top ten, so we’re due for a gripping afternoon of golf.
Good morning and welcome to our live coverage of the fourth and final day of the men’s golf at Paris 2024, where Great British medal hopeful Tommy Fleetwood is teeing off in just under ten minutes time in the final group, alongside joint leaders Jon Rahm of Spain and Xander Schauffele of the USA.
Fleetwood is currently alone in the bronze medal position, having shot 13 under par after the first three rounds, trailing Rahm and world number two Schauffele on -14. He is accompanied by two major winners as he bids for the biggest title of his career, and will need to be closer to his form on the second day, that saw him joint top after shooting seven under par and become the French crowd’s darling.
Fleetwood is undeterred by his high-octance competition, however. With this being the third golf tournament in a row at the Olympics following a 112 year absence, he is happy that the leaderboard is packed with high-profile names under what Rory McIlroy has highlighted is a unique atmosphere.
In the group before, Ireland’s McIlroy is about to start, teeing off alongside Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama and Denmark’s Nicolai Hojgaard; McIlroy trails those two by one shot, currently sitting on -10 having shot a five-under-par 71 yesterday. His group enter the final round in mixed form, McIlroy playing tidily to avoid any bogey golf after his first two rounds were hindered by some poor holes amidst a couple of eagles.
Fortunes are varying amongst McIlroy’s group, however, Matsuyama has seen his form drop off after an eight-under-par 63 on day one, shooting level par yesterday, whilst Hojgaard equalised le Golf National’s t course record yesterday with a 62, a difficult two-putt preventing him from beating the record set by his twin brother, Rasmus. Nonetheless, McIlroy is just four shots behind the lead, presenting him with a low pressure chance to, in his mind, put his majors demons to bed.