Scottie Scheffler was a model of calm Sunday as he delivered the greatest closing round of his career.
American Scottie Scheffler, golf’s No.
1 player, added a gold medal to his 2024 haul on Sunday.
Andrew RedingtonFour shots behind to start the final round, six shots behind early on the back nine, Scheffler birdied five of six holes down the stretch and matched the course record with a 9-under 62 for a one-shot victory over Tommy Fleetwood.
And there was a stunning collapse by Jon Rahm, who saw a four-shot lead disappear in two holes and his hopes vanish with a double bogey; by Rory McIlroy, one shot behind until hitting wedge into the water; and by Xander Schauffele, the PGA and British Open champion who had a chance to win another gold until playing a four-hole stretch in 4-over par.
Not to be overlooked was Victor Perez of France, who hit the opening tee shot Thursday and came within one shot of a medal on Sunday.
Already a six-time winner on the PGA Tour this year, including his second Masters title, Scheffler added Olympic gold to an astonishing season with a round that kept the sellout crowd on edge for a wild conclusion.
He set an Olympic record for 72 holes at 19-under 265.
Scheffler becomes the second straight American to win gold in men’s golf, following Schauffele in the Tokyo Games.
And the winner turned out to be an 8-iron he gouged out of the rough to 18 feet for a fourth straight birdie and his first lead of the week.
Rahm missed a meaningless par putt on the final hole for a 39 on the back nine, leaving him two shots from winning a bronze, four shots behind Scheffler.
“I think by losing today, I’m getting a much deeper appreciation of what this tournament means to me than if I had won any medal,” he said. “
“McIlroy, who ended his 10th straight year without a major, entered the mix when he began the back nine with five straight birdies.
He was one off the lead, in the middle of the 15th fairway with a wedge in his hand.
“I still think that the Ryder Cup is the best tournament that we have in our game, pure competition, and I think this has the potential to be right up there with it,” McIlroy said. “
