Scottie Scheffler has added the gold medal to his incredible year after a stunning -9 final round which tied the course record at Le Golf National in Paris on a thrilling afternoon.
The American world No.1 produced a barnstorming back nine to take the lead with some trademark superb iron shots including into 17th where he made his fourth birdie in a row.
It propelled Masters champion Scheffler into the lead and he kept his nerve as the likes of Jon Rahm collapsed. Spanish pro Rahm got to -20 at one stage and looked hot favourite for the gold but he dropped six shots coming in the back nine and didn't even medal. Defending champion Xander Schauffele also faded after going in the water.
Tommy Fleetwood of Great Britain took silver on -18 and could have forced a play-off with Scheffler had he birdied the last. But Fleetwood's gutsy up and down for par at least ensured him second place ahead of Hideki Matsuyama who took bronze on -17.
Elsewhere, Frenchman Victor Perez thrilled the local crowds with a -8 final round to finish fourth. While Rory McIlroy threatened to get a medal only to find the water late on en-route to a costly double bogey.
Olympics golf leaderboard
- -19 Scottie Scheffler (USA)
- -18 Tommy Fleetwood (Great Britain)
- -17 Hideki Matsuyama (Japan)
- -16 Victor Perez (France)
- -15 Jon Rahm (Spain)
- -15 Rory McIlroy (Ireland)
- -14 Nicolai Hojgaard (Denmark)
- -13 Tom Kim (South Korea)
- -12 Jason Day (Australia)
- -12 Corey Conners (Canada)
- -12 Xander Schauffele (USA)
- -12 Joaquin Niemann (Chile)
- -12 Thomas Detry (Belgium)
- -11 Wyndham Clark (USA)
- -11 Thorbjorn Olesen (Denmark)
- -10 Christiaan Bezuidenhout (South Africa)
- -9 Erik Van Rooyen (South Africa)
- -8 Alejandro Tosti (Argentina)
- -8 CT Pan (Chinese Taipei)
- -8 Matteo Manassero (Italy)
- -8 Ludvig Aberg (Sweden)
- -7 Min Woo Lee (Australia)
- -7 Guido Migliozzi (Italy)
- -6 Collin Morikawa (USA)
- -6 Byeong Hun An (South Korea)
- -5 Matti Schmid (Germany)
- -5 Carlos Ortiz (Mexico)
- -5 Stephan Jaeger (Germany)
- -5 Shane Lowry (Ireland)
- -4 Rafael Campos (Puerto Rico)
- -4 Viktor Hovland (Norway)
- -4 Nick Taylor (Canada)
- -3 Gavin Green (Malaysia)
- -3 Fabrizio Zanotti (Paraguay)
- -2 Nico Echavarria (Colombia)
- -2 Tapio Pulkkanen (Finland)
- -2 Abraham Ancer (Mexico)
- -2 Ryan Fox (New Zealand)
- -2 Sepp Straka (Austria)
- -1 David Puig (Spain)
- -1 Shubhankar Sharma (India)
- -1 Adrien Dumont de Chassart (Belguim)
- E Kris Ventura (Norway)
- E Emiliano Grillo (Argentina)
- +1 Sami Valimaki (Finland)
- +1 Mito Pereira (Chile)
- +1 Gaganjeet Bhullar (India)
- +1 Alex Noren (Sweden)
- +3 Adrian Meronk (Poland)
- +3 Joel Girrbach (Switzerland)
- +3 Keita Nakajima (Japan)
- +4 Kevin Yu (Chinese Taipei)
- +5 Zecheng Dou (China)
- +6 Kiradech Aphibarnrat (Thailand)
- +7 Daniel Hillier (New Zealand)
- +8 Carl Yuan (China)
- +9 Camilo Villegas (Colombia)
- +13 Matthieu Pavon (France)
- WD Matt Fitzpatrick (GB)
- WD Phachara Khongwatmai (Thailand)
- Olympics Men's Golf Tee Times
- How To Watch The Men's Olympic Golf
- Olympics Golf 2028 Venue
- Perks Of Winning Olympic Gold
- Do Caddies Get A Medal At The Olympics?
- Olympics Golf Format Explained
Good morning and welcome to the first round of the 2024 men's Olympic golf competition.
The weather is beautiful in Paris and the course looks great too, with 60 players hoping to put a low score on the board on day one.
TOUGH START FOR WYNDHAM CLARK
The 2023 US Open champion bogeyed the 1st and has made double at the par-3 2nd after chunking his tee shot into the water. He's three-over after two holes.
LUDVIG ABERG INTO THE WATER ON 1
The Swede is one of the favorites for gold but he's hit a poor tee shot down the 1st, pulling it into the water. Will do well to make par.
MICHAEL PHELPS ON-SITE
The legendary swimmer, who is the most decorated Olympian of all time, loves his golf and it's great to see him at Le Golf National this morning showing his support.
.@MichaelPhelps, big golf fan. 😄#OlympicGolf pic.twitter.com/VV0O2snqlGAugust 1, 2024
MCILROY IN CLOSE AT THE 1ST
The World No.3 will have a good look for birdie on the 1st from around 10ft. Aberg has hit it in tight to save his par after finding the water. Scheffler has around 20ft for birdie.
SCHEFFLER BIRDIE!
The World No.1 rolls in a 20-footer at the 1st and he gets off to the perfect start.
MCILROY BIRDIE PUTT SLIDES BY
It's a par for McIlroy at the 1st.
DIFFICULT START FOR MIN WOO LEE
Lee is bottom of the leaderboard alongside Wyndham Clark at three-over after a double at the 1st and then another bogey at the par-5 3rd.
FLEETWOOD UNDER PAR
The Team GB star rolls in a six-footer at the par-5 3rd to get under par.
MCILROY STRUGGLING AT 2
Team Ireland's McIlroy misses the green to the right of the par-3 2nd and his bunker shot goes well long of the pin. Looks like a bogey is on its way.
MCILROY BOGEY
McIlroy does indeed bogey the 2nd. His tee shot pushed into the bunker did the damage there, albeit his sand shot wasn't the best either.
NIEMANN THE FIRST MAN TO -3
The LIV Golf money list leader follows up his eagle at the 3rd with a birdie at the 6th to become the first man to reach three-under-par.
SCHEFFLER, WOW.
Scottie just missed the hole by about an inch or two with his 3-wood into the par-5 3rd. He's ran around 20ft past the pin so is looking likely to make at least a birdie.
STUNNING CHIP FROM MCILROY
The World No.3 plays an explosion-style shot from the thick tough at the 3rd and it rolls up to tap-in distance. He gets back to level par after that dropped shot at the 2nd.
WYNDHAM CLARK STRUGGLES CONTINUE
The World No.5 is currently in last-place of the players on the course right now at four-over after 4 holes.
SCHEFFLER BIRDIES 3
A very easy birdie for the World No.1. His second shot was truly stunning and so nearly dropped for an albatross. Great start!
ABERG ALSO BIRDIES 3
The star trio of Scheffler-Aberg-McIlroy all birdie the 3rd.
Ludvig is now one of 15 men under par.
MATTI SCHMID TO THREE-UNDER
The German, who is a past Open silver medallist, birdies 3, 6 and 7 to join Joaquin Niemann at the top of the leaderboard.
OLYMPIC MEN'S TEE TIMES STILL TO COME:
(ET/BST)
- 5.06am (10.06am): Adrian Meronk (Poland), Sami Valimaki (Finland), David Puig (Spain)
- 5.17am (10.17am): Erik van Rooyen (South Africa), Keita Nakajima (Japan), Kevin Yu (Chinese Taipei)
- 5.33am (10.33am): Stephan Jaeger (Germany), Nicolai Højgaard (Denmark), Thomas Detry (Belgium)
- 5.44am (10.44am): Byeong Hun An (Korea), Shane Lowry (Ireland), Nick Taylor (Canada)
- 5.55am (10.55am): Xander Schauffele (USA), Viktor Hovland (Norway), Jon Rahm (Spain)
- 6.06am (11.06am): Matthieu Pavon (France), Collin Morikawa (USA), Matt Fitzpatrick (Great Britain)
- 6.17am (11.17am): Shubhankar Sharma (India), Rafael Campos (Puerto Rico), Carlos Ortiz (Mexico)
- 6.28am (11.28am): Nico Echavarria (Colombia), Mito Pereira (Chile), Kris Ventura (Norway)
- 6.39am (11.39am): Fabrizio Zanotti (Paraguay), Joel Girrbach (Switzerland), Tapio Pulkkanen (Finland)
NIEMANN TO FOUR-UNDER!
The LIV star birdies the 8th and he's the first man to four-under-par. Matti Schmid just made a bogey so Niemann has a two-stroke lead at the top.
NIEMANN FLYING.
Here's how he's started:
- Par
- Par
- Eagle
- Par
- Par
- Birdie
- Par
- Birdie
CONNERS CLOSES TO WITHIN ONE
The Canadian PGA Tour star moves to three-under and within one of Niemann's lead after back-to-back birdies at 6 and 7.
HUGE BIRDIE FROM MCILROY!
The World No.2 rolls in a monster from outside 30ft at the par-4 5th to get back to under par.
HUGE PUTT FOR FLEETWOOD
Team GB star Tommy Fleetwood moves to within two of the lead after a monster birdie putt at the 8th.
Lots of movement on the leaderboard this morning at Le Golf National in perfect conditions. Niemann still leads by one but the pack below is charging, including Tom Kim who has three birdies in four holes.
THREE-WAY TIE AT THE TOP
Matti Schmid has joined Niemann at four-under after birdies at 10 and 11, while Hideki Matsuyama has also moved to the top after back-to-back birdies at 7 and 8.
MATTHIEU PAVON ON THE TEE
The home hero has received a stunning reception on the 1st tee and ran in high-fiving the crowd. Pavon has had a superb year after winning his maiden PGA Tour title at the Farmers Insurance Open early in the season.
Meanwhile, Xander Schauffele has got his gold medal defense underway and he's missed the 1st green in two.
REMAINING OLYMPICS TEE TIMES TO COME
(ET/BST)
- 6.06am (11.06am): Matthieu Pavon (France), Collin Morikawa (USA), Matt Fitzpatrick (Great Britain)
- 6.17am (11.17am): Shubhankar Sharma (India), Rafael Campos (Puerto Rico), Carlos Ortiz (Mexico)
- 6.28am (11.28am): Nico Echavarria (Colombia), Mito Pereira (Chile), Kris Ventura (Norway)
- 6.39am (11.39am): Fabrizio Zanotti (Paraguay), Joel Girrbach (Switzerland), Tapio Pulkkanen (Finland)
SCHAUFFELE CHIP-IN!
After missing the green to the right of the 1st hole, the defending gold medallist and two-time Major champion chips it in for a stunning birdie. What a start!
MATSUYAMA LEADS
The Japanese star, winner of the 2021 Masters, birdies the 9th for his third in a row to turn in five-under-par. He leads by one.
MATSUYAMA'S FRONT NINE:
- Par
- Birdie
- Birdie
- Par
- Par
- Par
- Birdie
- Birdie
- Birdie
MATSUYAMA JOINED AT THE TOP!
Germany's Matthias Schmid has made his third birdie in four holes (and his sixth of the day) to join the lead at five-under.
MATSUYAMA TO SIX!
Hideki becomes the first man to reach six-under-par thanks to his fourth consecutive birdie at the 10th after pouring in a long-range putt.
Matthieu Pavon has just birdied the 1st - he is really embracing this. Big fist pump and the crowd are loving him.
LOW SCORING AT LE GOLF NATIONAL
Conditions are just perfect and Le Golf National is looking sensational in the Parisien sunshine.
We have 26 players under par from 51 to have completed at least one hole - which according to my maths says that over half the field are under par.
WYNDHAM CLARK UPDATE
For those following along earlier, Wyndham Clark has managed to get himself back to two-over.
The World No.5 was four-over after four holes but birdied the 9th and 10th.
EAGLE FOR MCILROY!
The World No.3 hit a stunning shot into the par-5 9th and rolled in his eagle putt perfectly from inside 10ft. He's made a huge jump up the leaderboard after being one-over thru 2.
Scheffler birdied the 9th so he is at three-under, too.
SCHMID JOINS THE LEAD AGAIN
The German is matching Hideki Matsuyama shot-for-shot and the pair are now two clear at the top. Schmid has now birdied four of his last five holes and has seven birdies in total thru 14.
MATTHIAS SCHMID IS HAVING A DAY
The World No.147, who was the low amateur at the 2021 Open, has made seven birdies in 14 holes so far at Le Golf National.
JON RAHM EAGLE
The LIV Golf star and two-time Major winner chipped in at the 3rd for an eagle at the par 5. Great start after his win last week at LIV Golf UK.
His teammate and fellow LIV Golfer David Puig is going even better at three-under after six thanks to birdies at 3, 4 and 5.
LUDVIG ABERG TO FOUR-UNDER
The World No.4, playing in the star grouping alongside Scheffler and McIlroy, has just made his fifth birdie of the day to move to within two of the lead.
MATSUYAMA COULD EASILY BE TWO CLEAR
Hideki is playing great golf today but he's missed two birdie putts inside 15ft on the last two holes. Could easily be eight-under!
NIEMANN TO FIVE-UNDER
The LIV Golf star has just birdied the par-5 14th to move within one. He has three birdies, one eagle and zero bogeys so far today.
SCHMID IN TROUBLE
The German spins his ball back off the green into the water at the difficult 15th. That's going to be at least a bogey you'd think.
The closing stretch at Le Golf National is notoriously difficult, so we can expect players to fight for pars towards the latter stages.
AMAZING SUPPORT FOR HOME STAR MATTHIEU PAVON
Plenty of support for France’s own, @MatthieuPavon! 🇫🇷#OlympicGolf pic.twitter.com/HUaEYlW4spAugust 1, 2024
SCHMID DOUBLE BOGEY
The German did indeed double bogey the 15th after spinning his ball back off the green and into the water. A costly mistake that drops him two back of Hideki Matsuyama - who may be about to go to seven-under.
RYAN FOX TO FIVE-UNDER
The New Zealander is putting together a superb round here with five birdies and no bogeys thu 14.
MATSUYAMA TO SEVEN-UNDER
Another stunning iron shot left Matsuyama with a kick-in birdie at the 13th to reach seven under.
7 birdies. 6 pars. What a round he's having.
NIEMANN TO SIX
The Chilean hit a great approach into the difficult 15th and managed to roll the birdie putt in to get to six-under.
38 PLAYERS UNDER PAR
Scoring conditions remain ideal today at Le Golf National - it's a day to go low!
MCILROY DROPS BACK
The World No.3 bogeyed the 10th and 12th to fall back to one-under.
He does have the par-5 14th to come before the demanding finishing stretch. He'll hope to get in at two-under or better on what is a very low scoring first day.
ANOTHER BIRDIE FOR MATSUYAMA
He finds the par-5 14th green in two and just misses his eagle putt from 18ft for a tap-in birdie.
That's eight birdies, no bogeys in 14 holes. Some round.
BIRDIE FOR MCILROY
McIlroy's lovely approach into the par-4 13th nestled on the fringe around 10ft past the hole and he's rolled it in to get back to two-under.
MCILROY BACK TO THREE-UNDER
Birdies at 13 and 14 for the World No.3 gets him back to -3.
NIEMANN FINISHES AT FIVE-UNDER
The LIV Golfer is clubhouse leader at five-under with a 66. He bogeyed the 18th after a wayward drive.
Some round from the Chilean who made one eagle, four birdies and a solitary bogey.
SAMI VALIMAKI TO SIX-UNDER
The Finnish star rolls in his sixth birdie in 11 holes to move up to 2nd-place on his own.
GRILLO MATCHES NIEMANN'S 66 WITH STUNNING BUNKER HOLE-OUT
Argentina's Emiliano Grillo ties the clubhouse lead with a 66 after holing a bunker shot for birdie at the 18th.
He made seven birdies and two bogeys.
MATTHIAS SCHMID ON HIS ROUND:
"Conditions were great. I don't think the course is going to play much easier than it is today. I played pretty good, I must say. I hit most fairways, hit many greens, got a lot of looks. Just a couple bad swings towards the end which was really costly but that's golf. The round is 18 holes but the tournament is still long. I'm playing well. We'll see."
MCILROY CHARGING!
The four-time Major winner rolls in his third consecutive birdie at the difficult par-4 15th hole to climb to four-under-par. A superb charge after bogeys at 10 and 12.
HUGE PAR SAVE ON 17 FOR MATSUYAMA
A poor drive looked like it could cost the Japanese star a bogey at the 17th but he managed to hole from 15ft to save par. Massive save to keep himself two clear at the top.
XANDER SCHAUFFELE DOING XANDER SCHAUFFELE THINGS
The World No.2 and defending gold medallist has just put an excellent front nine on the board to turn in 31 (-5).
Five birdies, four pars and in a lovely sequence of birdie-par-birdie-par-birdie-par-birdie-par-birdie.
MATSUYAMA INTO THE 18TH
After his epic par save on 17, Hideki pulls his approach left into the greenside bunker on the final hole. Will have an up-and-down for a 63.
PUIG TO FIVE-UNDER
The LIV Golf star made five birdies in his first 11 holes, and he's just parred the 12th, to sit in T3rd now with just two men ahead of him.
VICTOR PEREZ ON 'ONCE IN A LIFETIME' FIRST TEE SHOT
"I told myself on the range, I told my caddie, James, let's be there the full ten minutes before and really soak it in all in. It's definitely a once-in-a-lifetime. I'll never hit this tee shot again, opening games in Paris and being French and having all the home support. I wanted to be there. There wasn't going to be more pressure whether I was there tore ten minutes or four minutes. So I was like, you might as well just try to be there and take it all in and enjoy the people. It was great. I managed to hit a good shot, actually."
MATSUYAMA PARS 18 FOR A 63 (-8)
SCHEFFLER TO FOUR-UNDER
The World No.1 birdies the 17th to move inside the top-10 and within four of Hideki Matsuyama's lead.
Scheffler has had plenty of chances today and is bogey-free. A hot putter and he could easily be up there with Hideki.
DISAPPOINTING FINISH FOR JASON DAY
The Australian was four-under heading down the last but found the water long of the green to end up with a double bogey. He falls to six back of the lead.
STUNNING FROM RAHM
Jon Rahm just chipped in again! This at 12 was a beauty from under the level of the green, he flopped it up and it landed perfectly before rolling into the center of the cup.
The Spaniard is back to two-under.
POOR FINISH FROM MCILROY
The World No.3 had a very long birdie putt but there's no excuses for smashing it 15ft by. It ends up in a three-putt bogey, his fourth dropped shot of the day, to post a still very good 68 (-3), which is only three back of the silver medal spot right now.
Scottie Scheffler finishes at four-under, while Ludvig Aberg matches McIlroy's 68.
SCORES FOR THE BIG TRIO:
A HUGE BIRDIE FOR RAHM
After his chip-in on 12, Rahm has just holed a monster putt on the 13th to move up to three-under.
JASON DAY ON THE NERVES OF COMPETING FOR AUSTRALIA
"This is probably the most nervous I've been wearing a set of clothes that you look down and see the colours," he said.
"The first couple holes caught me off-guard actually quite a lot. I was quite nervous standing over the first tee shot and then it took me a few holes to get over it. It's amazing, we're not playing for money this week obviously.
"We are playing for a medal and you're here for kind of playing for free. But my point is, is that like it feels totally different. This is the most I've felt nervous standing on a tee box wearing a set of clothes that I'm wearing for the first time.
"It's a good feeling because it just shows that it means a lot to me, which is good. So I'm happy about it."
RORY MCILROY ON IMPORTANCE OF GOLF IN THE OLYMPICS:
"I don't really know what I expected today but this definitely exceeded those expectations," he said.
"Yeah, I mean, from an overall maybe health of the sport and game and sort whereof it sits, where this competition sits amongst the hierarchy of the tournaments that we have, yeah, it's probably an important week."
SAMI VALIMAKI TO -7
Finland's Valimaki, who plays on the PGA Tour after graduating from the DP World Tour, has birdied the 17th to move within one of the lead. It's his eighth birdie of the day!
ANOTHER EAGLE FOR JON RAHM
A sensational fairway wood into the 14th sets up a simple right-to-lefter for Rahm and he boxes it for his secone eagle of the day.
Last week's LIV Golf UK winner moves to -5 and within three of Matsuyama's lead.
SCHAUFFELE ALSO TO SEVEN-UNDER!
A lovely birdie putt converted on 14 moves the Champion Golfer of the Year and defending gold medallist to within one of the lead.
Thru 14 holes he's had seven birdies and seven pars.
LEADER HIDEKI MATSUYAMA AFTER HIS 63:
"Today's result was good. So I'll take that as a positive," he said.
"My putts went in the cup well today. My shots went into the fairway, too. So I had a lot of chances, so I'm happy.
"I'm glad I was able to finish the day in the top spot."
NIGHTMARE FOR RAHM
The Spaniard has been brilliant today but drops two shots on the par-3 16th after hitting a ball into the water. He's back to three-under after that double.
SCORING UPDATE
We have 43 players under par today and just 12 over par.
Min Woo Lee and Camilo Villegas are in last-place at five-over.
LOVING THE OLYMPIC GEAR THIS WEEK
SCHAUFFELE IN TROUBLE ON 17
I say 'trouble' but there's every chance he'll still make par. He pulled his drive well left and has only been able to chop it up the fairway. He's left it 20 yards short of the green so faces a fairly simple up-and-down for a player of his skill - we'll find out.
UPDATE: SCHAUFFELE MADE BOGEY
He pitched it to around 6ft but just missed the right-to-lefter on the low side. First bogey of the day.
STORMS 8 MILES AWAY
Spectators have been warned to take shelter with bad weather on its way. Play continues for now.
RAHM BOUNCES BACK
A great birdie at 17 - which is the hole where he defeated Tiger Woods at the 2018 Ryder Cup - to move back up to four-under.
FITZPATRICK STRUGGLING
The Team GB star isn't having the best day today. He has just chunked his approach into the 17th after making double at 16, where he hit it into the water.
He's one-over-par and down in T48th.
LIV GOLFERS GOING WELL
There's 7 LIV Golfers in the Olympics golf tournament and most of them are putting very strong performances in today.
Here's how the LIV Golf leaderboard currently looks:
- T2: Carlos Ortiz -6
- T4: Joaquin Niemann -5
- T4: Mito Pereira -5
- T8: Jon Rahm -4
- T24: David Puig -2
- T32: Abraham Ancer -1
- T51: Adrian Meronk +2
PLAY SUSPENDED
Play has been suspended due to weather. Players are coming off the course.
PLAY TO RESUME SHORTLY
"Round 1 of the men's Olympic golf competition will resume at 17:05. Practice facilities have opened for athletes," the International Golf Federation says.
Play will resume at 17:05.#OlympicGolf https://t.co/Era5aCer2aAugust 1, 2024
EPIC JASON DAY QUOTE:
JOAQUIN NIEMANN ON 'CRISIS' IN GOLF
After an impressive start in Paris, Joaquin Niemann says an unfair Olympic qualification criteria means "you don't have the best players" playing in the event - which he says is part of a wider "crisis" in the game.
PLAY BACK UNDERWAY!
After a 40-minute suspension of play, we are back underway at Le Golf National.
CARLOS ORTIZ DROPS BACK
A disappointing double bogey for the LIV Golfer at the par 3 16th, where he found the water off the tee. He's back down to four-under in a tie for 6th.
DOUBLE FOR MITO PEREIRA AS WELL
Ortiz's fellow LIV Golfer and Torque GC teammate Mito Pereira also found water - at the 15th - to fall back with a double bogey.
SHANE LOWRY FINISHES UP
It's a bogey on the last for the Irishman, who posts a level-par 71. That's eight back of gold, seven back of silver and just five back of the bronze medal position.
A long way to go.
SCHAUFFELE PARS THE LAST FOR A 65 - CURRENTLY 2ND
PLAY SUSPENDED AGAIN
🌩️: Play interrupted at 17:26#OlympicGolf pic.twitter.com/OftIXaIiwoAugust 1, 2024
RORY MCILROY EARLIER IN THE WEEK:
SCORING UPDATE/MY THOUGHTS
Much has been made of the scoreable conditions today and players have certainly been going low. There's 41 men under par and just 14 over par from the 60-man field.
We currently have 51 players within six strokes of the bronze medal position so it's still very wide open. What a tournament we have in store.
Golf in the Olympics is absolutely brilliant. It's been superb to see all of the world's top players supporting it this year and it's undoubtedly going to continue to grow. LA 2028 at Riviera is going to be very special.
A word on Le Golf National, too. It's great to see the world's best back there for the first time since the 2018 Ryder Cup. It might not test the players like a Pinehurst or a Troon but it's certainly a ball striker's paradise and the finishing stretch can produce big numbers.
The French Open is one of the world's oldest national Opens and it'd be great to see the PGA Tour support the DP World Tour in elevating it back to where it should be.
STILL NO UPDATE ON WHEN PLAY WILL RESUME
Hopefully we can get play finished today, there's not much left to go. The final group have just two holes remaining.
PLAY RESUMING SOON
Good news, looks like we'll get the full first round in today. Play will resume at 6.30pm local time (12.30pm ET/5.30pm BST).
UPDATE: Play is scheduled to resume at 18:30. https://t.co/vjnGTVnXpGAugust 1, 2024
PLAY NOW CONCLUDED
Everyone has now completed their first rounds after the two suspensions of play.
Hideki Matsuyama leads Xander Schauffele by two strokes, and we have 20 players within five strokes of the gold medal spot and 46 players all within six strokes of bronze.
DAY 2 UNDERWAY
Good morning and welcome to the second round at Le Golf National. The weather looks perfect this morning in Paris and we've once again got a great day's golf ahead.
The first few groups are out on the course, and Sami Valimaki (-4) looks to be dropping back after finding water on the par-3 2nd.
SCHAUFFELE, HOVLAND AND RAHM TEEING OFF
Big group heading off now. Amazing atmosphere down at the 1st tee with cries of "USA, USA, USA!" and "EUROPE, EUROPE, EUROPE!"
Loving the Ryder Cup feel.
COMMENTATOR'S CURSE
"Really comfortable tee shot for Hovland, loves to move the ball left-to-right"
Proceeds to double-cross his utility iron miles left into the water.
RAHM AND SCHAUFFELE FIND THE FAIRWAY
Good tee shots from the other two big names.
'MAYBE EVEN LOWER SCORES TODAY'
NBC's John Wood expects even lower scores today with conditions better than yesterday - if that's even possible. Thinks players can be very aggressive today with the soft greens.
We have Matsuyama leading at -8 so would imagine the leading score could be 11, 12 or 13-under come the end of the day.
NIGHTMARE START FOR HOVLAND
After finding water off the tee on the 1st, his third shot finds water, too, as it just rolls back off the edge of the green.
That means he'll now be dropping for five and be struggling for double, with potentially even triple on the cards. He double bogeyed the 18th yesterday so a very costly couple of holes.
INCREDIBLE SCENES ON THE 1ST TEE
Matthieu Pavon arrives to a hero's welcome and the crowd bursts out into a rendition of the French national anthem. Amazing.
TODAY'S OLYMPIC GOLF TEE TIMES TO COME:
ET (BST)
- 4.22am (9.22am): Shubhankar Sharma (India), Rafael Campos (Puerto Rico), Carlos Ortiz (Mexico)
- 4.33am (9.33am): Nico Echavarria (Colombia), Mito Pereira (Chile), Kris Ventura (Norway)
- 4.44am (9.44am): Fabrizio Zanotti (Paraguay), Joel Girrbach (Switzerland), Tapio Pulkkanen (Finland)
- 4.55am (9.55am): Victor Perez (France), Matti Schmid (Germany), C.T. Pan (Chinese Taipei)
- 5.06am (10.06am): Thorbjørn Olesen (Denmark), Alejandro Tosti (Argentina), Joaquin Niemann (Chile)
- 5.17am (10.17am): Emiliano Grillo (Argentina), Alex Noren (Sweden), Ryan Fox (New Zealand)
- 5.33am (10.33am): Min Woo Lee (Australia) Corey Conners (Canada), Christian Bezuidenhout (South Africa)
- 5.44am (10.44am): Wyndham Clark (USA), Hideki Matsuyama (Japan), Tommy Fleetwood (Great Britain)
- 5.55am (10.55am): Sepp Straka (Austria), Jason Day (Australia), Tom Kim (Korea)
- 6.06am (11.06am): Scottie Scheffler (USA), Rory McIlroy (Ireland), Ludvig Åberg (Sweden)
- 6.17am (11.17am): Adrien Dumont de Chassart (Belgium), Daniel Hillier (New Zealand), Guido Migliozzi (Italy)
- 6.28am (11.28am): Kiradech Aphibarnrat (Thailand), Gavin Green (Malaysia), Gaganjeet Bhullar (India)
- 6.39am (11.39am): Phachara Khongwatmai (Thailand), Abraham Ancer (Mexico), Dou Zecheng (China)
VAN ROOYEN TO -5
A birdie at the par-5 3rd for the South African who is now up to T3rd and in the bronze medal position.
HOVLAND STARTS WITH A TRIPLE
Ouch.
Two balls in the water for Hovland. He ended yesterday with a double and starts with a triple.
-3 thru 17, +2 thu 19. He is still within seven of the bronze medal spot with 53 holes left so needs to get his head down.
LIV GOLF LEADERBOARD
A strong start for the LIV Golfers yesterday, here's how they got on:
- T3: -5 Joaquin Niemann
- T6: -4 Jon Rahm
- T14: -3 Carlos Ortiz
- T21: -2 Mito Pereira
- T21: -2 David Puig
- T29: -1 Abraham Ancer
- T49: +2 Adrian Meronk
RAHM BIRDIE
The Spaniard makes a rare 2 at the par-3 2nd hole courtesy of a 29-footer to move up to T2nd.
SCHAUFFELE BOGEY
The World No.2 drops a shot at the 2nd after finding the bunker to the right.
STEPHAN JAEGER CHARGING
A great start for the German PGA Tour pro who starts par-birdie-eagle to move up to three-under.
SCHAUFFELE BOUNCES BACK
After dropping a shot at the 2nd, the defending gold medallist birdies the par-5 3rd to move back up to six-under.
Jon Rahm also birdies the 3rd and continues his move after birdieing the 2nd.
THOMAS DETRY BIRDIE
The Belgian birdies the par-4 5th to move to three-under for the day and tournament.
The scoreboard initially showed him as holing out from 163 yards but it was an error - still, a great start.
JON RAHM CHARGING
The two-time Major champion fires a rifle down the pin at the 4th and he's going to have a tap-in birdie to move to seven-under.
SCHAUFFELE MATCHES RAHM AT 4
A brilliant birdie putt from 15ft for the World No.2 gets him to seven-under, just before Rahm taps in to also move to one back of Matsuyama.
SCHAUFFELE TIES THE LEAD
The defending gold medallist puts three consecutive birdies together at 3, 4 and 5 to reach eight-under-par and tie Hideki Matsuyama's lead.
NIEMANN STARTS WITH A BIRDIE
The LIV Golf money list leader moves to six-under thanks to a birdie at the 1st.
DETRY AND JAEGER FLYING
Belgium's Thomas Detry and Germany's Stephan Jaeger both started the day at level par and they're now at five-under after just seven holes.
Scoring is low today!
MORIKAWA APPEARING ON THE LEADERBOARD
The two-time Major champion is now the third man inside the top-20 after playing his first six holes in two under, courtesy of back-to-back birdies at the 5th and 6th.
MANASSERO CLIMBING
The Italian has three birdies and eight pars thru 11 holes to move up to T6th and five-under-par. So good to see him back.
MATSUYAMA, FLEETWOOD AND CLARK UNDERWAY
Big days for all three ahead.
Matsuyama (-8): Can he extend his lead? He's already been caught but held a two-stroke lead overnight and could easily get to 12-or-13-under.
Fleetwood (-4): A strong day for Tommy could put him right into contention for a medal heading into the weekend.
Clark (+4): Has faced criticism online over his spot in the team (instead of DeChambeau) so can he find something today to help him make a weekend charge?
REMAINING TEE TIMES:
Just five groups remaining, including the huge trio of Scheffler, McIlroy and Aberg.
ET (BST)
- 5.55am (10.55am): Sepp Straka (Austria), Jason Day (Australia), Tom Kim (Korea)
- 6.06am (11.06am): Scottie Scheffler (USA), Rory McIlroy (Ireland), Ludvig Åberg (Sweden)
- 6.17am (11.17am): Adrien Dumont de Chassart (Belgium), Daniel Hillier (New Zealand), Guido Migliozzi (Italy)
- 6.28am (11.28am): Kiradech Aphibarnrat (Thailand), Gavin Green (Malaysia), Gaganjeet Bhullar (India)
- 6.39am (11.39am): Phachara Khongwatmai (Thailand), Abraham Ancer (Mexico), Dou Zecheng (China)
MATSUYAMA BACK ON TOP
The 2021 Masters champion makes a simple birdie at the 1st, finding the fairway and the green before rolling in a 20-footer. Perfect start.
Wyndham Clark also made birdie on the 1st to get back to three-over.
SCHAUFFELE CO-LEADS
Xander Schauffele makes a two-putt birdie at the par-5 9th to join Hideki Matsuyama back at the top of the leaderboard.
He is looking very good this week once again.
Jon Rahm could only manage a par so remains six-under.
THOMAS DETRY SIX-UNDER FOR THE DAY!
The Belgian has had a great year so far with a T4 at the PGA Championship and T14 at the US Open, and he's going very well at Le Golf National.
In 11 holes this morning, he has six birdies and five bogeys to climb up 38 spots on the leaderboard to T3rd.
VERY IMPRESSIVE FROM SCHAUFFELE
This is a Valhalla kind of set up where you will make birdie after birdie if you hit fairways and greens, and stay out of the rough. Schauffele is just so good at that.
From 27 holes, the World No.2 has 11 birdies and just two bogeys. He looks like he's going to win a medal this week, I'd be surprised if he doesn't.
MATSUYAMA REGAINS LEAD
Hideki becomes the first man to double digits under-par courtesy of a two-putt birdie at the par-5 3rd.
NOT FOR VERY LONG...
Schauffele rolls in his fifth birdie in ten holes to join Matsuyama at 10-under.
The two at the top are now four three of the pack, with Thomas Detry now seven-under for the day (and tournament)!
EAGLE FOR TOMMY!
Tommy Fleetwood moves to six-under thanks to an eagle at the par-5 3rd.
He holed a 47-footer. Lovely start.
INCREDIBLE ROUND FROM DETRY
The Belgian holed a stunning flop shot from below the surface of the green on the 12th for his seventh birdie in 12 holes.
He is now in the bronze medal position on his own.
TOM KIM HOLE-OUT EAGLE
The Korean plays a stunning greenside bunker shot at the 3rd and he's another man to eagle the par-5!
He moves up to six-under.
XANDER SCHAUFFELE TWO CLEAR!
Xander birdies the 11th to move to five-under for the day just as Hideki Matsuyama drops a shot at the 4th. Big move.
STUNNING EAGLE FROM RORY MCILROY
From 261 yards at the par-5 3rd, McIlroy's approach strikes the flagstick and comes to rest within 5ft.
He holes it and that's a huge move up to five-under.
FLEETWOOD'S MOVE TO -7
The Englishman made that eagle on the 3rd and followed it up with birdie at 4, where he hit it from 187 yards to six inches. Amazing birdie from the Team GB star.
FINLAND GOING VERY WELL
Finland currently has two golfers inside the top-11 here (Valimaki -6/T5 and Pulkkanen -5/T11).
Finland has yet to win a medal at Paris 2024, so the country will very much be getting behind their golfers this weekend.
STUNNER FROM FLEETWOOD
Tommy almost holed his iron shot at six and he's almost done the same at the 6th too. He'll have a tap-in birdie to move up to eight-under and into third position.
SCHAUFFELE IN TROUBLE ON 13
The leader pulled it left into the rough on 13 and has to call over an official to scrape some loose impediments away from an ants nest. He hacks it up the fairway and will need to get up-and-down for par.
MATSUYAMA TO 10-UNDER
Hideki gets back to 10-under with a birdie at the 6th.
Fleetwood also makes birdie, and Thomas Detry moves to eight-under with his eighth birdie of the day, wow!
SCHAUFFELE DROPS OUT OF THE LEAD
He's unable to get it up-and-down after laying up from the thick rough, after pulling his wedge shot into the green.
Just like that, his lead of two is back to a tie with Matsuyama.
BRILLIANT START FROM MCILROY
The World No.3 eagled 3 and he's just birdied the 5th to move up to six-under.
SLOW START FOR SCOTTIE
The World No.1 was primed to go low today but it's been a frustrating run of six pars.
Scheffler has just missed from inside 8ft at the 6th for birdie. He'll surely get on a run soon.
TOMMY FLEETWOOD!
The Englishman moves to within one of the lead courtesy of a 35-footer for birdie at the 7th!
He's five-under after just seven holes and up to nine-under.
MATSUYAMA DROPS BACK
Hideki misses from 6ft at the 7th to fall back out of the lead with his second bogey of the day.
SCHAUFFELE MOVES TO -11
After the bogey at 13, Schauffele gets it up-and-down from the sand greenside on 14 for a birdie. The stunning bunker shot stopped within 4ft for an easy birdie chance.
Great bounce back. Two clear.
UN-SCHEFFLER-LIKE
The World No.1 misses the 7th fairway way right and he only found his ball thanks to Rory McIlroy's help. His 2nd shot went about 5 yards and his third has barely got out of it.
Going to potentially make a very costly double here.
DOUBLE FOR SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER
Ouch. You don't see the World No.1 make many of those.
He has now dropped to two-under and nine back of the lead.
BIRDIE-BIRDIE FOR RAHM
The Spaniard birdies the par-5 14th and then rolls in another great putt at the difficult 15th to move up to eight-under.
JON RAHM IS CHARGING
After back-to-back birdies, the LIV Golf star hits a beauty into the par-3 16th to set up another great birdie look.
It's only 3-or-4ft, so I'm giving him that. Expect him to move to nine-under.
ANGRY GOLFER
Emiliano Grillo has just hit a poor bunker shot on the 10th and he has had a good four or five swipes of his club at the sand. The fans were not impressed.
STUNNING ROUND FROM DETRY
MATSUYAMA MOVES TO -10
Hideki is up to 2nd on his own after his fourth birdie of the day. He stuffed a wedge inside 5ft on the 10th and duly converted.
WRONG END OF THE LEADERBOARD
For those wondering, Camilo Villegas is in last-place right now by four strokes. Matthieu Pavon is in a very disappointing T58th despite the huge home support.
Viktor Hovland is +3 and T55 after that nightmare triple bogey start, while Min Woo Lee is climbing at three-under for the day for a +2 total.
Wyndham Clark is three-under for the day as well, so a respectable fightback from the World No.5
MATSUYAMA JOINS THE LEAD
Hideki makes a 2 at the 11th for a birdie-birdie start to the back nine. He re-joins the lead with Xander Schauffele, who has around 5ft on the 18th to get in at 11-under.
RORY MCILROY BIRDIE
The World No.3 birdies the par-5 9th to get back up to six-under.
MATT FITZPATRICK ON FIRE
The Englishman shot a 73 (+2) yesterday but it's a completely different day in round 2.
Fitzy is seven-under for his round and now just four back of the bronze medal spot.
SCHAUFFELE PARS 18 FOR A 66
Brilliant round from the World No.2 and defending gold medallist.
SCHEFFLER LOOKING MORE LIKE SCHEFFLER
The World No.1 has begun the back nine birdie-birdie to get back to four-under after that double bogey on the 7th.
STUNNER FROM FLEETWOOD INTO 13
The Englishman hits one his trademark sorn-off punch iron shots and it lands and stops within 5ft of the hole. He'll have that to move within one of the lead.
POOR FINISH FROM CARLOS ORTIZ
The LIV Golfer was going along very nicely at seven-under but has finished bogey, double-bogey after finding the water on the 18th.
He drops to four-under.
FLEETWOOD TO -10!
The Englishman converts his short birdie putt at the 13th to move within one of the lead. He's now six-under for the day and right in the mix for the medals.
RORY MCILROY UPDATE
For the Rory fans out there, he is going along nicely and is just one hot streak away from putting himself right in the mix.
He's five-under for the tournament and two-under for the day with an eagle, two birdies and two bogeys thru 12 holes.
XANDER SCHAUFFELE ON HIS 66:
"A little bit of everything. Five under is a good score on this property. Overall, sitting in a good spot coming into the weekend," he said.
And on which parts of his game he wishes were sharper:
"All parts of it. I'm pretty nitpicky. But like I said, it's a positioning battle coming out of that final stretch and all you're trying to do is give yourself a chance on that back nine."
FLEETWOOD JOINS THE LEAD!
Tommy reaches seven-under for the day with another birdie at the par-5 14th to tie the lead with Schauffele and Matsuyama.
Your new co-leader at the Olympics golf tournament. pic.twitter.com/5IkE7zusuJAugust 2, 2024
DEVASTATION FOR TAPIO PULKKANEN
The Finnish star visited the water twice on the 18th and ultimately made a quintuple-bogey 9 to drop from six-under to one-under.
He was four-under for the day but ultimately signs for a 72 (+1). Ouch.
JON RAHM (4th/-9) HAPPY TO BE BACK ON WORLD STAGE
"It's good to come back to a world stage and put myself in position. The Open I was there, but I wasn't quite close enough to have a chance on Sunday. Even though I ended up top 10, it was never really a reality of winning it. Today I put myself in position, and hopefully I can keep it going on the weekend."
LUDVIG MISSILE
In Ludvig Aberg fashion, the Swede just hit a stunning high, towering fairway wood into the par-5 14th to set up a great look at eagle.
He'll have within 10ft to move to six-under.
CT Pan, meanwhile, has just holed a monster on the 18th to finish birdie-birdie and vault up the leaderboard.
SCHEFFLER LOOKING GOOD TOO
Scheffler, playing with Ludvig Aberg (and McIlroy) has just hit a similar shot to Aberg into the 14th albeit with a long iron.
He'll have that to also move up to six-under. A great response from the World No.1 to that double bogey on 7.
VICTOR PEREZ BIRDIES 18
An excellent birdie on 18 from the Frenchman, who has been sending the fans wild all day long.
He finishes birdie-birdie-birdie to get to five-under and well in position to make a run this weekend.
The home crowd are absolutely loving him, and he's their only hope for a medal in the men's competition as Matthieu Pavon is sadly T57th out of 60.
A BIT OF A DUFF FROM MCILROY
The World No.3 semi-duffs his pitch shot on the par-5 14th and it looks like a good opportunity is going to missing there. He's still five-under.
GREAT BOUNCEBACK FROM MIN WOO LEE
The Australian said he was almost embarrassed after shooting five-over yesterday to sit in last-position but he's five-under for the day and back to level.
Currently in T42nd position and definitely not fully out of it yet, especially if he can go low tomorrow.
ABERG AND SCHEFFLER BOTH MISS THEIR EAGLE PUTTS
That must make McIlroy feel a little better after he only made par, as both Scheffler and Aberg miss short-ish eagle putts on 14.
They both move to five-under.
HIDEKI MATSUYAMA CHIP-IN!
The Japanese star chips in for birdie from just off the green on the par-3 16th to move to the top of the leaderboard on his own.
TOM KIM MOVING UP
The Korean star has just birdied 13, 14 and 15 to move inside the top-five at -8.
UN-ABERG-LIKE
Ludvig Aberg has just found the water on the 15th after pushing his approach shot. Not used to seeing that from him.
He's likely going to drop back to four-under.
NIEMANN MAKES A GOOD BOGEY ON 18
The Chilean found the water on the 18th and eventually holed a 10-footer to save his bogey. He signs for a 70 (-1) to finish at six-under.
FLEETWOOD IN TIGHT AT 17
It's not a gimme but the Englishman has hit another excellent iron shot into the par-4 17th, where he'll have inside 6ft to join Matsuyama at the top.
Matsuyama up next, as they're playing together, and the leader looks disgusted with his effort but it's within 10ft...very Hideki-like!
WYNDHAM CLARK REBOUNDING
An excellent effort from Wyndham Clark, who is playing with Matsuyama (-12) and Fleetwood (-11), in making three consecutive birdies at 14, 15 and 16.
The 2023 US Open champion is now under-par for the tournament after a 75 yesterday.
Min Woo Lee is also under-par now despite his 76 yesterday. Well done boys.
MATSUYAMA TO -13
An excellent birdie from the leader, who briefly goes two clear at the top after rolling in a 10-footer on the 17th. Fleetwood will have a short one to move within one.
FLEETWOOD FROM 6FT ON 17...
It's a birdie!
It just about drops on the left side and he's now 2nd on his own and eight-under for the day.
MATSUYAMA IN TROUBLE DOWN 18
He pushed his drive up the right and only just found his ball. It's buried, and he has checked if it's embedded but I don't think it was.
He's picked it up and put it back and is also on a severe side-slope with the ball above his feet.
Going to be a tricky lay-up. There's no way he can reach the green in two on the par-4 18th.
Fleetwood, meanwhile, is in the bunker off the tee and he's also laying up.
MCILROY BIRDIE AT 16
McIlroy moves up to six-under after a brilliant birdie at the par-3 16th. He struck it to within 8ft and cosied the putt down to the bottom of the cup.
MATSUYAMA'S SECOND SHOT ON 18
He gave it an almighty swipe but it hasn't even reached the fairway. He'll take a bogey right now.
Fleetwood's lay-up from the bunker was perfect and he's going to have a sand wedge into the green from the fairway.
OH HIDEKI.
His third shot has come up short into the water.
He'll be dropping for five and hoping to get up-and-down for double.
Disaster.
SCHEFFLER IN TIGHT AT 17
Scheffler's bounce-back continues after the double bogey on 7 with a stunning iron shot into 17.
He's going to have a literal tap-in to move back to six-under.
FLEETWOOD UP NEXT
From 75 yards, he hits an absolute beauty - as that was a scary shot over the water - to leave a 10-footer to save par.
If he holes that, he's going to be the 36-hole leader I think. It's also for a bogey-free 63.
MATSUYAMA PLAYING HIS FIFTH SHOT ON 18 NOW
He takes a drop on the fairway and he's got one of those horrible little wedge shots over water.
He's hit a beauty that lands a little long and left and checks up to about 12ft.
That was a scary shot - it's the one that Tapio Pulkkanen hit into the water earlier on his way to 9. He'll have that for double bogey.
MATSUYAMA FOR DOUBLE...
He holes it. Brilliant putt down the hill with a little right-to-left.
He signs for a 68 (-3) and is 11-under after 36.
TOMMY FLEETWOOD TO LEAD ON HIS OWN...
He misses to the right. Not the best putt there.
It's a 64 (-7) for Fleetwood and we have a three-way tie at the top.
Schauffele, Fleetwood and Matsuyama all at 11-under after two rounds.
WHAT A ROUND FROM TOMMY
DISASTER FOR MCILROY
The World No.3 had to take a penalty drop on the 17th and he has fallen to a double bogey.
It drops him back down to four-under.
SENSATIONAL APPROACH INTO 18 FROM MCILROY
After his disastrous double bogey on 17 from Rory McIlroy, he has hit a beautiful mid-iron into the difficult 18th at Le Golf National.
Should have 6ft to finish with a much-needed birdie.
MCILROY BIRDIES 18
Brilliant response from the World No.3.
A very up-and-down round of 69 (-2) to reach five-under after 36-hole. He's only six back!
MIN WOO LEE ON HIS SECOND ROUND 65 (HE SHOT 76 YESTERDAY)
"Played really good. But yeah just got off to a really good start and that definitely helps. Especially at a course like this, if you start average, then it's pretty hard to come back. So yeah, just didn't give up, really. And that was kind of the motto after yesterday. Yesterday was tough but tough days of golf happen. Pat on the back for not giving up and playing good golf."
WHAT FLEETWOOD SAID AFTER HIS 64:
"It's coming. It's closer and I hit some beautiful iron shots and I think I definitely had a good sort of idea of what I was doing with the golf ball throughout the day, and especially today, I think like when I had to get up-and-down, or I had to make a par save, I did it, and when you have rounds like to today, obviously 7-under is a really good one, you have to make those as well."
RORY MCILROY LAMENTS 'TOO MANY MISTAKES'
"A few too many mistakes. Sort of similar story to yesterday. You know, making the good swings and making enough birdies and another eagle today. But yeah, just offset by a few too many mistakes over the first couple days."
MCILROY HOPING FOR FIRMER CONDITIONS
"I'd say if you would have asked me five or six years ago, I'd have said yes but I've really started to enjoy those firmer, drier conditions. So as I said, with a bit of drier weather over the next couple days, Sunday night have a little bit of bite to it."
MCILROY ON SCHEDULING:
"I think from what I've read, 2028 in L.A. is going to be much more of a headache than this one was. But maybe the world of golf looks a little different then."
On whether moving The Open:
"I don't think you can. Well, it will be the second week of Wimbledon which you can't do, either. There's so many golf tournaments and not enough weeks in the calendar. Something needs to give."
OLYMPIC GOLF TEE TIMES:
ET (BST)
- 3am (8am): Kiradech Aphibarnrat, Daniel Hillier, Camilo Villegas
- 3.11am (8.11am): Mito Pereira, Phachara Khongwatmai, Matthieu Pavon
- 3.22am (8.22am): Adrian Meronk, Gaganjeet Bhullar, Viktor Hovland
- 3.33am (8.33am): Matthias Schmid, Wyndham Clark, Gavin Green
- 3.44am (8.44am): Nick Taylor, Rafa Campos, Nico Echavarria
- 3.55am (8.55am): Yechun Yuan, Kevin Yu, Shane Lowry
- 4.11am (9.11am): Christiaan Bezuidenhout, Sepp Straka, Abraham Ancer
- 4.22am (9.22am): Emiliano Grillo, Alex Noren, Min Woo Lee
- 4.33am (9.33am): Adrien Dumont de Chassart, Joel Girrbach, Tapio Pulkkanen
- 4.44am (9.44am): Nicolai Hojgaard, Byeong Hun An, Ryan Fox
- 4.55am (9.55am): Thorbjorn Olesen, Zecheng Dou, Keita Nakajima
- 5.06am (10.06am): Shubhankar Sharma, Kristoffer Ventura, Fabrizio Zanotti
- 5.17am (10.17am): Collin Morikawa, Carlos Ortiz, Ludvig Aberg
- 5.33am (10.33am): Matteo Manassero, Sami Valimaki, David Puig
- 5.44am (10.44am): Corey Conners, Jason Day, Rory McIlroy
- 5.55am (10.55am): Matt Fitzpatrick, Victor Perez, Alejandro Tosti
- 6.06am (11.06am): Erik van Rooyen, Joaquin Niemann, Scottie Scheffler
- 6.17am (11.17am): Tom Kim, Stephan Jaeger, Guido Migliozzi
- 6.28am (11.28am): Jon Rahm, Thomas Detry, CT Pan
- 6.39am (11.39am): Xander Schauffele, Hideki Matsuyama, Tommy Fleetwood
WHAT A GREAT LEADERBOARD
GOOD MORNING ALL
Good morning all, Matt Cradock here, and I am ready to take you through the third round of play at Le Golf National, where a stacked leaderboard is present. It's moving day in Paris and, with the leaders going off in around two hours time, some of the other names on this leaderboard will be looking to make a charge on what is yet a stunning day.
Currently, a number of groups have teed off and, in the early wave, it's Ireland's Shane Lowry who has started brightly, as a birdie at the first has moved him to one-under for the day and tournament. Just now, Min Woo Lee, Alex Noren and Emiliano Grillo have teed off at the first.
CHIP IN FOR LOWRY
Lowry's hot start continues as he chips in for a birdie at the par 5 third. He's two-under for the round and tournament now, with his European Ryder Cup teammate, Sepp Straka, also making a hot start with a couple of birdies through the early stages. Although the pair are under-par, it's Germany's Matti Schmid who is the hottest player on the course, as he is three-under through five holes.
BIRDIES EVERYWHERE
A flurry of birdies have just happened in the past few minutes, with Viktor Hovland birdieing the par 4 sixth to get to two-under for his round and back to one-over for the tournament. Along with Hovland, American Wyndham Clark has recovered from an early double bogey to get back to one-over-par.
At the opening hole, which has not given away many birdies, both Joel Girrbach and Adrien Dumont de Chassart produce excellent putts to start their rounds perfectly. Now on the first tee is Japan's Keita Nakajima, China's Zecheng Dou and Denmark's Thorbjorn Olesen.
HOW TO WATCH
As mentioned, the leaders get underway at 12.39pm local time (UTC) and, via this link, you can find out how to watch the action at Le Golf National!
Back to the golf and, at the first, Olesen nearly holes his approach for an eagle! He taps in for the birdie and moves to four-under. Elsewhere, Hovland's good start continues, as he birdies the seventh to move to three-under for the day and level-par for the event, whilst Lowry makes his first bogey of the day at the fifth. He is now one-under.
RYDER CUP CAPTAIN LOVING THE ACTION
Golf in @Olympics is proving to be a great success.It’s a pleasure being here to feel the atmosphere from the sold out crowds but more importantly the atmosphere amongst the players.Most of the worlds best taking each other on for Olympic gold. Sport in its purest form. 🇩🇰August 3, 2024
Thomas Bjorn has fond memories of Le Golf National, as he captained the European Ryder Cup side to a 17.5 - 10.5 victory here in 2018. Attending the event in Paris, it seems he is loving the action at the Olympics and, rightly so!
With play well underway on Saturday, we now have an exciting group on the first tee, as two-time Major winner, Collin Morikawa, Sweden's Ludvig Aberg and Mexico's Carlos Ortiz, get their third rounds underway in the 11.17am group. They are four-under for the tournament, seven back of the leaders
MATTI SCHMID ON A CHARGE
The German is the hottest player on the course this morning, with four birdies through his first seven holes putting him three-under for the day. Another player who has made a good start is Belgium's Adrien Dumont de Chassart (-4), who is two-under for his day after birdieing the first and third.
ANOTHER CHIP IN FOR SHANE
Lowry is notorious for having one of the best short games in the world and, at the sixth, he chips in for a second time today! That birdie moves him to two-under for the tournament.
At the first, Aberg, Morikawa and Ortiz find the green safely with their approaches and will have chances for birdies. Up first is Aberg, whose attempt comes up well short. In the case of Ortiz, his downhill attempt goes well past the hole, whilst Morikawa's attempt just grazes the right edge.
SCORING IS OUT THERE ON SATURDAY
The leaders will be watching this action closely this morning, with a number of players scoring well in the early stages on Saturday. Christiaan Bezuidenhout has made three birdies in his last four holes to move to four-under, whilst Hovland and Schmid continue their good starts.
NOW ON THE TEE, RORY McILROY
Arguably the biggest player in the tournament, Rory McIlroy starts his third round in the 11.44 group. The four-time Major winner is five-under for the event and will tee it up alongside Canada's Corey Conners and Australian Jason Day, who are both five-under.
All three will be looking to go low and, at the first, Conners finds the middle of the fairway, as does Day and McIlroy. Obviously, with this being one of the marquee groups, the crowds are deep and, with those three tee shots, it's the perfect start for the trio.
HOME HERO NOW ON THE TEE
What an atmosphere for France's Victor Perez! The home hero is introduced on the first tee to rapturous applause from the crowd. He is paired alongside Team GB's Matt Fitzpatrick and Argentina's Alejandro Tosti, with all three men finding the fairway with their tee shots.
Up ahead on the green, both McIlroy and Conners have birdied the opening hole following excellent approaches and putts, whilst Day pars the first, with his birdie putt just missing.
AN AND OLESEN MAKE GREAT STARTS
Byeong Hun An has birdied three of his first five holes, with the South Korean now five-under-par. Not to be outdone, Thorbjorn Olesen has birdied three of his first four holes to also join An at five-under.
Back at the second, McIlroy's tee shot at the par 3 barely clears the water, but the aggressive line does mean he will have a good look at birdie. Elsewhere, Schmid has turned in a five-under 31, whilst Frenchman, Perez, misses the green to the right with his approach. In regards to his playing partners, Fitzpatrick has found the back of the green, whilst Tosti puts it tight for a good look at birdie.
WORLD NO.1 GETS UNDERWAY
We're getting into the big names of the event now, with World No.1, Scottie Scheffler, on the first tee alongside Joaquin Niemann and Erik Van Rooyen. The trio are six-under-par, five back of the leaders and, at the opening hole, it's a bad start for Van Rooyen, who finds the water left. It's a different story for Niemann, whose tee shot just about finds the fairway, whilst Scheffler is also safely on the short grass.
PAR FOR RORY
Roars for Rory reverberate throughout Le Golf National! 🍀#OlympicGolf | @McIlroyRory pic.twitter.com/WfLipReDUPAugust 3, 2024
McIlroy's birdie attempt at the second comes up just short, with a par meaning he stays one-under for the day. Back at the first, Tosti birdies to move to six-under for his tournament, with Perez and Fitzpatrick safely parring the tough opener.
STUNNER FROM SCOTTIE
Another day, another class approach from Scheffler! His second into the first finishes feet away from the cup. He will likely tap in for a birdie, whilst Van Rooyen hits a good shot in after taking a drop. The final player to hit is Niemann, who also produces a nice approach into the first.
Now on the first tee is South Korea's Tom Kim, Germany's Stephan Jaegar and Italy's Guido Migliozzi, whilst Byeong Hun An has made a third straight birdie at the sixth hole to sit four-under for his round and six-under for the tournament.
EAGLES AND BOGEYS
David Puig hits a beauty into the par 5 third and converts his putt for a delightful eagle. The Spaniard is now six-under and in a log jam for 11th. Behind Puig, Van Rooyen makes bogey at the first, whilst Perez bogeys the second.
As expected, Scheffler taps in for a birdie to move to seven-under following a great shot at the first. Speaking of the opener, Jon Rahm is now on the tee alongside C.T Pan and Thomas Detry. Finally, McIlroy has birdied the third to move to seven-under.
WHAT A PUTT FROM OLESEN
Olesen is making moves on Saturday and, at the par 4 seventh, he holes an incredible putt! Faced with around 35-feet, his effort runs through the fringe and, eventually, the left-to-right effort drops for a fourth birdie in his first six holes.
At the first, Rahm finds the fairway with his tee shot, whilst Detry, who shot the round of the day yesterday, also finds the fairway. The final man to tee off is Pan, who won bronze in Tokyo 2020, with the Chinese Taipei player finding the right rough.
AN'S BIRDIE RUN CONTIUNES
An's hot streak continues as the South Korean makes yet another birdie! He has birdied the fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh to get to five-under for his round and seven-under for the tournament.
Further back, Scheffler bogeys the second following a poor tee shot, with his fellow countryman, Xander Schauffele, now on the first tee. The recent Claret Jug winner is one of three players in a share of the lead at 11-under.
LEADERS UNDERWAY
The final group are off at Le Golf National, with Schauffele, Hideki Matsuyama and Tommy Fleetwood all on the tee. Going first, Tokyo 2020 gold medallist, Schauffele, hits a big draw into the centre of the fairway, whilst Matsuyama follows the American. Last up is Fleetwood, who shot a 64 yesterday, and the Team GB star also finds the short grass.
That's all the players now out on the golf course, with plenty of drama and action in store. Who will be leading by the end of play today? Well, over the next five hours or so, we'll find out...
LEADERS SAFELY FIND THE GREEN
Schauffele, Fleetwood and Matsuyama all find the green at the first and will have good looks at birdie. Up ahead, Rahm finds the green at the second, as Olesen makes yet another birdie! The Dane is five-under today and eight-under, just three back of the leaders.
In the chasing pack, Hojgaard has birdied four of his last five holes to get to six-under-par, whilst Aberg and Puig are two-under for their days and also six-under.
PARS AT THE FIRST
Despite three nice approaches at the first, neither Fleetwood, Matsuyama or Schauffele can convert their birdie attempts. They stay at 11-under with their pars and two clear of Rahm.
Ahead, Niemann birdies the third to move to seven-under, whilst Detry bogeys the second to join the Chilean. Not long after, Scheffler also birdies the third to join the logjam at seven-under, whilst Olesen shows he is human, as his birdie putt just misses the left edge on the eighth.
MATSUYAMA FINDS THE WATER
Big mistake from Matsuyama, who finds the drink on the second! He was stood over the ball for some time then, so perhaps an inkling of pressure? Either way, he will be taking a drop. In the group, Schauffele finds the back bunker and will have a tricky shot coming up, with Fleetwood safely finding the green with a great approach.
ANOTHER BIRDIE FOR HOJGAARD
Nicolai Hojgaard birdies the ninth to go out with a five-under 31. He has vaulted over 20 spots and is now just four back of the leaders. Along with Hojgaard, Tom Kim has birdied the third to get to nine-under and two back of the lead.
Speaking of the leaders, Matsuyama has put his third onto the green, but has work to do to make bogey. After finding the bunker, Schauffele plays a delightful shot and will save par, whilst Fleetwood's birdie attempt comes up just short, with the par keeping him tied for the lead.
BIG BOGEY FOR MATSUYAMA
That could be huge for Hideki, who manages to hole his lengthy bogey attempt to just drop one shot! Might that be a pivotal moment? Talking of pivotal moments, I had given that putt to Schauffele, but he misses it on the right side! Can't have been more than two-foot that... It now means Fleetwood is the outright leader!
Up at the third, Detry strikes a majestic fairway wood to the middle of the green and will have a chance at eagle. Elsewhere, Niemann rolls in a great putt at the fourth to move to eight-under, just three back of the leaders.
EAGLE FOR DETRY, RAHM AND PAN BIRDIE
The third hole has been giving away plenty of birdies and eagles, with Detry, Rahm and Pan showing just that. Following an excellent shot from the Belgian, he rolls in his eagle to move to nine-under, whilst Rahm and Pan both birdie following excellent third shots. Rahm is now one back, with Pan three.
There are plenty of charges going on right now, with one of those being An, who makes his seventh birdie of the day in just 10 holes! He is now nine-under for the tournament and two back of Fleetwood, who is dealt a huge break at the third, with his tee shot just a foot away from dropping in the water.
AN IS ON FIRE!
He started the day at two-under, but An has just made an eighth birdie in 11 holes! The South Korean is now 10-under for the tournament and one back of leader, Fleetwood. Some golf that from An!
In the leader's group, Fleetwood does well to make par after finding trouble off the tee. In regards to his playing partners, Schauffele short sides himself in the bunker, with his third firing across the green. Despite this, the American hits a great putt that just misses on the right side as he makes par. Finally, Matsuyama hits a nice approach, but his birdie putt lacks conviction and misses on the left side.
RAHM INTO A SHARE OF THE LEAD
The Spaniard has been going about his business and has just birdied the third and fourth to move into a share of the lead alongside Fleetwood at 11-under. Playing alongside Rahm is Detry, who also birdies the fourth to move to 10-under and one back.
On the fourth tee, Fleetwood finds the fairway safely, with Schauffele following the Team GB star. In the case of Matsuyama, he pulls his drive, with the Japanese player missing his last two tee shots to the left.
FLEETWOOD LEADS OUTRIGHT
Fleetwood puts a good approach in at the fourth and has a chance to get to 12-under. Watching his playing partner, Schauffele, hole his putt for a first birdie of the day, Fleetwood then steps up and holes his short putt to get the outright lead back.
In the group ahead, Rahm finds the fairway at the fifth and then spins his wedge to around 10-foot. He has a great chance for birdie, however his putt just drifts by the left side and he remains at 11-under. Alongside Rahm, Detry produces a delightful little chip and then holes his putt for par. He remains at 10-under for the tournament.
HUGE BREAK FROM AN
Sat in the deep stuff, An pulls his approach and it seems his shot is destined for the drink. However, the South Korean's ball misses the water and trees and finishes left of the green. It will be a tough up-and-down, but it could have been so much worse for An!
Back with the final group and, after finding the fairway bunker, Schauffele's second shot hits the lip and finishes well back of the flag. He will have work to do not to drop too far back of Fleetwood, who produces a classy second shot after a poor drive. Another challenger to Fleetwood is Rahm who, in the group ahead, sticks his approach to the centre of the green on the sixth.
THAT'S SO GOOD FROM XANDER
Faced with a tricky wedge shot, the two-time Major winner plays it perfectly, with Schauffele's ball landing just past the bunker and spinning back to within inches of the flag. I'm confident in saying that, this time, he'll hole that for par!
In his group, Fleetwood's birdie attempt comes up short, but that should be a par for the Englishman, who will likely take that following his tee shot. Finally, one player we haven't heard much from is Rory McIlroy, but he is quietly moving up the leaderboard, as a third birdie of the day at the par 5 ninth moves him to eight-under, four back of Fleetwood.
DOUBLE BOGEY FOR AN
After a stunning run, An double bogeys the par 4 13th. He's now eight-under and four back of Fleetwood, but not out of it, especially as the finish at Le Golf National is very tough.
Elsewhere, Rahm has found the fairway at the seventh, with Detry firing a wayward tee shot that might be in some trouble. In the final group, Matsuyama finds the green from a gnarly lie, whilst Schauffele puts his wedge to around 15-feet for birdie. Leader, Fleetwood, who is in the centre of the fairway, then steps up and sees his approach from 130-yard finish just outside Schauffele's.
HOJGAARD IN CLOSE AT 14
Stunning approach from Hojgaard, who fires a fairway wood from 250-yards to just under six-feet. He'll have that for eagle and, even better news for Denmark, as Olesen holes a long putt at the 13th to move to nine-under-par for the tournament.
In the final group, Matsuyama and Schauffele par the sixth, whilst Fleetwood's birdie attempt misses on the left side. He taps in for a par and remains one shot clear.
JASON DAY MAKING A MOVE
The Aussie makes a fifth birdie of the day on the 10th and is now 10-under-par, two back of leader, Fleetwood. Along with Day, and after a stunning approach, Hojgaard also eagles the 14th and is seven-under for his round.
Whilst that's going on, Rahm birdies the seventh and is now in a share of the lead with Fleetwood at 12-under-par. Rahmbo is three-under for his day, so far, and is looking really solid at Le Golf National.
RAHM SAFELY ON THE GREEN AT EIGHT
The Spaniard has bogeyed the par 3 eighth on both Thursday and Friday, but Rahm puts a nice approach in for a good chance at birdie. Whilst he does that, nearest challenger, Fleetwood, almost holes a long putt for birdie at the seventh, with his attempt finishing past the flag.
A big roar has just gone around the course and, as it turns out, Rory McIlroy has just birdied the 11th to get to nine-under and three back. He is four-under for the round and is yet to make a bogey today!
DROPPED SHOT FROM RAHM!
Wow... after Rahm's birdie attempt looks destined for the bottom of the cup, it just slides by the right side. Faced with a three-footer coming back, the Spaniard then misses the putt on the left side, with an unexpected bogey dropping Rahm one shot back of Fleetwood.
Alongside Rahm, Detry misses his par attempt as he slides back to nine-under, whilst Pan rolls in a nice par putt to stay at nine-under-par and three back of Fleetwood, who is safely on the green at the par 3.
DAY MAKES ANOTHER BIRDIE
Day makes the birdie at the 12th! The Aussie hits a glorious putt and is now just one back of leader, Fleetwood.
MISSED OPPURTUNITY FOR XANDER
After Fleetwood misses his birdie attempt at the eighth, Schauffele has a great chance to pull alongside him. Faced with a short birdie putt, the American's effort slides by the right, with it somehow not dropping.
Up ahead, Hojgaard's impressive charge continues, with the Dane chipping in for a two at the par 3 16th! Now eight-under for his round, the 23-year-old is at 10-under and two back of Fleetwood.
RAHM MOVES BACK INTO A SHARE OF THE LEAD
After two big whacks, Rahm then shows off his short game skills with an exquisite chip at the ninth. It sets up a fourth birdie of the day and moves the 29-year-old back into a share of the lead at 12-under-par.
In the group behind, Matsuyama, who is two-over for his day, puts a nice approach into the ninth, whilst Fleetwood's wedge finishes around 20-feet from the flag. The final player to hit is Schauffele, whose attempt from the thick rough hits the up slope and finishes just off the green.
ANOTHER BIRDIE FOR HOJGAARD
What a round Hojgaard is putting on here, as he birdies the 17th to move to 11-under and one shot back of Rahm and Fleetwood. He has the best round going on the course right now!
In the final group, Fleetwood's birdie putt just slides by as he looks to regain the lead. It's also a good attempt from Schauffele, whose lengthy attempt nestles near the hole. Last up is Matsuyama and, like everything that's gone before him today, he is unable to hole his birdie putt. All three make par.
BACK NINE TIME
The front nine is over, and now we head into the back nine, which has played considerably harder this week. For the front nine, it is playing 1.041 shots less than par, whilst the back nine is playing 0.747 shots over par. Expect some interesting action coming in...
SHOT TOMMY
Team GB's Fleetwood produces a stunner at the par 4 10th, with his wedged approach finishing close to the hole for birdie. He should hole that to retake the lead in Paris.
Ahead, Rahm has a birdie putt at the par 3 11th, but his attempt runs past the high side and he'll have a little tester coming back. Another challenger, Day, has also just bogeyed the par 5 14th, with the Aussie dropping back to 10-under.
BIRDIES FOR HIDEKI AND TOMMY
That's two different ways of making birdie! From off the green, Matsuyama makes his first birdie of the day to get back to 10-under, whilst Fleetwood rolls in his putt to get to 13 and lead by one.
In regards to Rahm, he holed his par putt and now sits one back of Fleetwood with seven holes to go.
WHAT A ROUND FROM HOJGAARD
PAR FOR XANDER
That is some par from Xander, who was all over the place on the par 3 11th. He rolls in a mid-length putt and stays at 11-under-par, just two back of playing partner, Fleetwood.
Up ahead, Ludvig Aberg has been mounting a charge and is now nine-under for the tournament. Another player is McIlroy, who just misses a birdie attempt at the 15th. He is 10-under and still three back.
TROUBLE OFF THE TEE FOR FLEETWOOD
Fleetwood pulls his tee shot left on the par 4 12th, with it unclear as to where his ball actually finished. We believe it is in the bunker, but there is some juicy rough, so possibly could be in that. Away from Fleetwood's troubles, his playing partners, Schauffele and Matsuyama, are in the dead centre of the fairway.
Up ahead, Detry birdies the 12th after a stunning approach, whilst Rahm pars it. Detry is now 10-under, Rahm is still 12, one back of Fleetwood.
TWO SHOT SWING AT THE 12TH
And that's how quickly it can change! After a poor drive and pitch, Fleetwood drops a shot at the par 4 12th. To compound the bogey further, both Matsuyama and Schauffele birdie the hole, with a three-way tie of Fleetwood, Rahm and Schauffele now present.
In regards to the birdies, Matsuyama couldn't hole a thing on the front nine, but after that chip-in at the 10th, he has come alive, with the Japanese star holing a lovely birdie putt from distance.
RAHM NOW LEADS
Just as I send that, Rahm holes a putt from 25-feet to now lead at 13-under. Finding the green at the 13th, his right-to-left lengthy putt drops in at dead weight. It's the first time Rahmbo has led outright!
ADVANTAGE XANDER AT 13TH
All three of Schauffele, Fleetwood and Matsuyama are in the middle of the fairway at the 13th, but it's Schauffele who hits it closest, with his approach finishing 15-feet away. In regards to the others, Matsuyama's second comes up short, whilst Fleetwood is on the green, but well back.
Elsewhere, Scheffler has just missed a birdie putt at the 15th, with the World No.1 staying at 10-under. A player that was 10-under was Aberg, but a bogey at the last means a round of 66 and a tournament score of nine-under. He will still have a chance going into tomorrow.
HUGE PAR SAVE FOR RORY
McIlroy hit a poor chip on the 17th, but a long par putt means he stays at 10-under. That is a big momentum saver for the four-time Major winner.
RAHM EXTENDS HIS LEAD
What a shot from Rahm into the par 5 14th! He strikes a fairway wood from the centre of the fairway and it finishes around eight-foot from the flag. Although his putt just misses, he taps in for a birdie and extends his advantage over Fleetwood and Schauffele to two.
WHAT A SHOT FROM FLEETWOOD
Wow! A 50-yard bunker shot, or the hardest shot in golf, was made to look very easy from Tommy then... His wedge shot pitches and stops inches from the cup, with the birdie moving him one nearer to Rahm, who has found the green at the treacherous 15th.
Up on the 18th, McIlroy has parred his final hole of the day to sign for a five-under-par round of 66. He sits at 10-under and will be in contention for a medal going into Sunday.
EAGLE FOR SCHAUFFELE
That's massive from Xander! He finds the par 5 14th in two and, faced with a lengthy putt, he smashes it into the back of the hole for an eagle three and a share of the lead. That's huge from the two-time Major winner, who is now tied with Rahm at 14-under.
RAHM THREE PUTTS
A really poor first putt from Rahm, who sees his attempt roll well past the hole on the 15th. From there, his next attempt misses low and, just like that, Schauffele leads the Olympics.
WHAT A FINISH FROM PEREZ
The Frenchman gives the home crowd what they want at 18, as Perez holes his birdie putt to send the surrounding crowds into raptures. Perez will start Sunday at eight-under-par, and will have a chance to pick up a medal in Paris!
HERE'S HOW XANDER TOOK THE LEAD
ICE COLD XANDER. 🇺🇸😤Walk-in EAGLE putt to tie Jon Rahm for the lead!📺 Golf Channel and Peacock | #ParisOlympics pic.twitter.com/JG0AD7eT3CAugust 3, 2024
STOP THAT!
Erik Van Rooyen and Scheffler put on an exhibition at the 18th! Clipping a wedge to three-feet, Scheffler has a lot of work to get inside Van Rooyen's shot but, from 90-yards, the World No.1 lands it past the flag and spins it back to a foot.
Having bogeyed the 17th, it would have hurt Scottie if he had also bogeyed the 18th but, with that shot, it seems he will make par. Going into the final round, he will be at 10-under and still in with a chance for the win tomorrow.
PARS AT THE 16TH
Schauffele puts his approach on the 16th to around 20-feet and, striking the putt, there's a chance it may drop, but it stays straight and it's a simple par for the leader. Along with Schauffele, Fleetwood also pars convincingly, whilst Matsuyama's putting woes continue, as he three putts for a bogey.
On the 18th, all three of Niemann, Van Rooyen and Scheffler secure their pars, with all three currently within six shots of the gold medal spots at 14-under-par.
BIRDIE FOR RAHM
Rahmbo birdies the 17th to pull into a share of the lead with Schauffele! Finding the middle of the green, Rahm's downhill putt never looks anywhere else as it topples end-over-end into the middle of the cup. The Spaniard is now 14-under...
SO GOOD FROM XANDER
What a shot from the gold medal winner! Playing the 17th, Schauffele misses right and is faced with a dreadful lie in the rough. Despite this, the American makes clean contact and the shot runs to inches. Picture-perfect from The Open winner.
RAHM SAFELY ON AT 18
The 18th has been the toughest hole on the course today and, at the final hole, Rahm safely finds the green and will have a 30-footer for birdie. If he does hole it, he will have the outright lead!
STRONG FINISH FOR DETRY
Detry has had a mixed up-and-down with a variety of birdies and bogeys, but a closing birdie means he finishes at 10-under and in the hunt for a medal on Sunday.
As well as the Belgian, Rahm two-putts for par and is 14-under. He will be in the final group tomorrow, with Schauffele determining whether Rahm will still lead or start one back.
FLEETWOOD LAYS UP
After finding the rough off the tee, Fleetwood is forced to lay up to his favorite yardage. In the group, Matsuyama finds the middle of the green, whilst Schauffele is pin-high and will have 20-feet for a closing birdie.
SCHAUFFELE CLOSES WITH A PAR
The American's birdie putt looks in all the way, but it comes up just short of the hole. He signs for a third round 68 and will sit in a share of the lead with Rahm going into Sunday.
Along with Schauffele, Fleetwood makes a stunning up-and-down from 100-yards and will start Sunday just one shot back of the pair, with the likes of Hideki Matsuyama, Nicolai Hojgaard, Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler within touching distance.
WHO TAKES IT TOMORROW?
Rahm and Schauffele sit at 14-under-par, with Schauffele looking to defend his title from 2020. Can he claim another gold, or will one of the chasing pack track him down? All I know is tomorrow is set to be a thriller!
MEN'S OLYMPIC GOLF FINAL DAY HAS BEGUN
This is it. Who brings home the medals?🥇 _______________🥈 _______________🥉 _______________#Paris2024 | #Olympics pic.twitter.com/qLA6uUO4RtAugust 4, 2024
Almost half of the field are already underway in their fourth and final round at Le Golf National. A medal for those on course at this stage is highly, highly unlikely, therefore most will simply be enjoying their remaining Olympic experience before attention turns back to the rest of their respective seasons.
For the rest, however, warm-ups and other preparations will be well underway as they hope to bring home an Olympic medal for themselves and their country.
Jon Rahm and Xander Schauffele begin round four in a share of the lead and in the best position to do so, but the top of the leaderboard is cramped and there are several world-class players such as Tommy Fleetwood, Hideki Matsuyama, Rory McIlroy, and Scottie Scheffler all just waiting to pounce on any opportunity.
Rahm and Schauffele will go off last in the list of Olympic men's golf final round tee times, beginning the final leg of their quest to land gold at 6:39am ET (11:39am BST).
FLEETWOOD TO CARRY GREAT BRITAIN'S HOPES
Team Great Britain's Matt Fitzpatrick, who entered this week with a pre-existing right thumb strain, has withdrawn due to injury following the third round of the men's Olympic golf competition having shot 81. All GB eyes on Fleetwood then who is -13, one shot off the lead.
Mito Pereira climbing the leaderboard
Chilean pro Mito Pereira is climbing the leaderboard and is the best performer on the course at the moment. He is up nine places today after recording -5 score today through 10 holes. That has got him to +1 in total and up to 49th in the field
CONFIDENT RAHM LOVES Le Golf National
Rahm, fresh from his maiden LIV win, looks bang in form and his stats from his second consecutive 66 in the third round were mighty impressive. The Spaniard hit 17 of 18 greens in regulation, lead the field in greens in regulation (87.04%) and driving accuracy (80.95%) through three rounds.
PLENTY OF AUSTRALIAN SUPPORT
🇦🇺 @MinjeeGolf and @HannahGreenGolf checking in to root on @MinWoo27Lee!#Paris2024 | #Olympics pic.twitter.com/tQm6hhjIWEAugust 4, 2024
Min Woo Lee is even through three holes and -4 in total in tied 28th.
VICTOR PEREZ TO CARRY HOME HOPES
France's Matthieu Pavon has had a fine season on the PGA Tour with a win under his belt but he is last in the field currently. That has left home hopes pinned on Victor Perez. The Frenchman hit the first shot of the men’s event on Thursday and now tees off Sunday five behind the current bronze medal position.
Another withdrawal
Following Matt Fitzpatrick's overnight withdrawal with a thumb injury, Team Thailand’s Phachara Khongwatmai has withdrawn due to a back injury during the fourth round of the men's Olympic golf competition. He was even through 11 holes and +6 in total.
DECENT START FOR MORIKAWA AND CLARK AS KORDA COMES TO SUPPORT
Collin Morikawa has gone close a number of times this season on the PGA Tour and will aim to push for a bronze medal today if he can shoot the lights out. He is -2 for four holes to get to -7 in total. The American is being supported today by compatriot Nelly Korda, who has arrived at the course. Fellow USA pro Wyndham Clark has also started very well and is -3 for four holes to get to -8.
Defending gold medalist Nelly Korda has arrived to Le Golf National. 🇺🇸🫡📺 Golf Channel and Peacock | #ParisOlympics pic.twitter.com/MvKZwy8PE2August 4, 2024
KORDA HERE TO SUPPORT USA AND ALSO CHECK OUT COURSE
The women’s event will begin on Wednesday, with two practice days at Le Golf National after the men’s competition wraps up so Nelly Korda can check the course out today while supporting her compatriots.
McILROY OFF TO A FAST START
Rory McIlroy has got off to a perfect start with an opening birdie as Fleetwood and the leaders watch on in final group having found the fairway.
SCHEFFLER MAKES A BRILLIANT START
Birdie-birdie start for world No.1 Scottie Scheffler, who is now tied for third place and two shots off the lead.
LEADERS IN ACTION ON FIRST GREEN
Schauffele's birdie putt on the first dies just by the hole to leave a tap in par as Rahm also two putts for par while Fleetwood drops a sloppy shot at the first after missing the green with his short approach following an ideal drive.
SCHEFFLER GOES CLOSE WITH AN EAGLE PUTT ON THIRD
Scheffler has an excellent chance of a third successive birdie at the third after going close with an eagle putt. He holes out to get to -13.
Schauffele misses second green but chips up dead
Superb touch around the green from Schauffele on the second to leave him with a tap in par after missing the green. Fleetwood though as a birdie chance after dropping a shot at the first. He makes it and it is as we were with the trio after Schauffele and Rahm both stay level today and -14 in total.
McILROY PICKS UP A SECOND BIRDIE IN THREE HOLES
McIlroy's charge is gaining momentum after he reached the par 5 third in two and has a tap in for birdie which he achieves. He has a made a promising start to climb firmly into medal contention along with Scheffler. But Rory will have a tricky stand on the fourth where his tee shot has hung on to a slope above a bunker.
IN-FORM SCHAUFFELE HITS FANTASTIC SHOT ON THE THIRD
Schauffele has hit a superb second into the par 5 third to give himself a decent birdie look. Fleetwood is also on the green but is further away. While Rahm is a similar distance away at the back of the green. Rahm chips up to have a tap in for a birdie to get to -15 as the trio all make birdie.
FLEETWOOD TO HAVE BIRDIE LOOK ON FOURTH
Fleetwood is closest to the pin out of playing partners Rahm and Schauffele on the par 4 fourth. Fleetwood has done well to bounce back from his opening bogey with successive birdies. But it is Schauffele who rolls in his birdie putt first before Rahm follows him in before Fleetwood completes a hat-trick of 3s.
RAHM, SCHAUFFELE AND FLEETWOOD ALL ON FIFTH IN REGULATION
The leading trio of Rahm, Schauffele and Fleetwood all have birdie putts on the fifth after hitting the green. They are all continuing to push to stretch their advantage over the chasing pack but none of them make their efforts they have to settle for pars.
McILROY'S IRON PLAY IS COSTING HIM
Rory is -2 through five holes today and four shots off the lead but his iron play doesn't look good enough after he misses successive greens with poor approaches from short range. Fortunately he escapes with par again thanks to brilliant chipping.
Hideki Matsuyama's putting practise paying off
Japan's Hideki Matsuyama spent two hours on the putting green this morning and it is paying off. He is -4 through six holes today and now just a shot off the lead.
BIRDIE FOR RAHM ON THE SIXTH
Rahm gets to -17 with a birdie on the sixth. But Schauffele also has a putt on a similar line and will look to follow him in. Yet the American's putt just refuses to drop and the Spaniard is in the lead by one.
SCHEFFLER'S FAST START HAS COOLED
Scheffler has just missed a birdie putt on the eighth and he remains four shots off the lead despite his bright start. He is in sixth now after Tom Kim got to -14 in total.
3-under through thru six.Scottie came to play.#Paris2024 | #Olympics pic.twitter.com/1VPX0xNt4FAugust 4, 2024
RAHM IS FIRED UP FOR THIS
Fresh from taking the solo lead on the sixth with a 24-foot putt, Rahm has just fired in an approach shot very close on the par 4 seventh to give himself another birdie look. The Spaniard looks set to keep pushing at the top to stretch his lead as he makes another birdie.
RAHM MAKES HIS FIRST MISTAKE ON THE EIGHTH TEE
Rahm has come up wide and short on the par 3 eighth and will do well to get up and down to save par. Schauffele's effort on the 208-yard hole also misses the putting surface but he has a relatively straightforward chance to get up and down. Fleetwood is the only player to hit the green. Rahm has since chipped up to about 18 feet as he scrambles a vital par to stay two ahead before it turns into a three shot lead as Schauffele's misses his par putt.
Man on a mission. #Paris2024 | @JonRahmOfficial 🇪🇸 pic.twitter.com/0zOx0SKvkUAugust 4, 2024
SCHEFFLER'S PUTTER HAS GONE COLD
World No.1 Scheffler opened with three straight birdies but his putter has since gone cold and he has had to settle for six straight pars since, including a putt which horseshoed out. The American is tied sixth on -13.
RAHM WITH A CHANCE TO EXTEND LEAD AT THE NINTH
This tournament is looking increasingly like Rahm's for the taking on this form. The Spaniard is the only man in the final three-ball to hit the par 5 ninth in two and will give him an eagle putt. His three-shot lead could grow here with Fleetwood missing the green on the right and Schauffele on the opposite side. Rahm's eagle putt comes up just short but he and Fleetwood both make birdies.
McILROY SLOTS HIS THIRD BIRDIE OF THE DAY ON THE 10TH
McIlroy makes a birdie on the 10th after a close approach. He is now tied seventh at -13 in total and -3 for the day.
RAHM FIRES A SUPERB APPROACH IN CLOSE ON 10
Rahm leads by three shots and is keeping his pedal to the floor on the back nine here with an aggressive approach to a front pin at the par 4 10th. He will have another birdie look here as will Schauffele. The American's doesn't drop but Rahm makes it to get to -20. He is on fire today and has the bit between his teeth at -6 through 10 holes.
McIlroy's climbs into the mix with back to back birdies
Rory McIlroy just holed a superb downhill snaking putt on the 11th to complete back to back birdies to climb up to -14 in total and -4 through 11 holes today. He is sixth - two shots off a medal and has now fired in an approach on the 12th which looks to have set up a tap in birdie which he makes to get to -15.
DRAMA AT THE 12TH AS RAHM DROPS A SHOT
Oh that is a surprise by Rahm who makes his first error by missing a short putt as his four shot lead is halved on the 11th green where Xander Schauffele has just made birdie.
Schauffele in big trouble on the 12th after going from rough to rough
Schauffele , fresh from making a birdie on the 11th, looks like giving it straight back on the 12th after missing the fairway on the right and landing in thick rough. He has then hacked out into thick rough the other side of the fairway. He now a bogey putt after chipping up close as Rahm also fails to make his par and is now -18.
BATTLE NINE BATTLE FOR MEDALS IS TURNING INTO A THRILLER
Jon Rahm's successive bogeys have blown the race for gold wide open and Tommy Fleetwood has taken advantage with a birdie on the 12th to get to -18 too. The pair are now level at the top but Rory McIlroy is on a charge and is -16 now. Home favourite Victor Perez has really added to the atmosphere too with a stunning -7 round through 15 holes to delight the crowd and push for a medal as he gets to -16 with a birdie on the 16th. He is now -8 in total today.
HOW WILL RAHM RESPOND?
Rahm must be stunned, he has seen a four-shot lead disappear in the space of two holes. How will the Spaniard now respond on the 13th? He is over the back of the 13th but should be able to make par from there. But Xander Schauffele is in big trouble again after finding the water with his second. For all Schauffele's superb form this year, he has been alarmingly erratic today. They now have close-range putts for par for Rahm and Fleetwood and bogey for Schauffele.
McIlroy with an eagle look on the 14th
Schauffele is slipping down the leaderboard following successive bogeys. But McIlroy , along with Victor Perez, is on the rise. McIlroy has just found the par 5 14th in two to tee up a potential eagle. His effort comes up just short but McIlroy gets a birdie.
SCHEFFLER IS NOT OUT OF IT EITHER, WHAT A FINISH
Scheffler has just stiffed his approach to 15 to tee up a nailed on birdie. He gets to -17, one shot off the lead. He has then followed it up with a superb tee shot on the 16th to about six foot. That will give him a putt to join the leaders which he makes.
DISASTER FOR RORY WHO FINDS THE WATER WITH A WEDGE ON 15
After blazing his way into contention, McIlroy has made an unforced error on the 15th with a wedge which he has put in the drink. Ouch. That is going to be costly as he will drop two shots here to slip back.
BAD BREAK FOR FLEETWOOD ON THE 14TH
Fleetwood's hopes of picking up a shot on the par 5 14th have been hit by a terrible hanging lie above a green side bunker. He has lofted the ball on to the green but is a long way from the hole. He makes par but Rahm is also struggling and missing the chip on the left and makes a costly double bogey from no-where. Nightmare for the Spaniard.
Scheffler looks to be in the box seat now
The world No. 1 makes his fifth birdie on the back nine on the par 3 16th and his third in a row to tie for the lead on -18 in total.
SCHEFFLER TIMING HIS RUN PERFECTLY
Scheffler has just fist-pumped his way to his ninth birdie of his round on the 17th to hit the front on his own on -19 and -9 for the day. His celebration shows how much he wants this medal. A birdie at the last would break the course record and set the clubhouse lead on -20 which should be enough for gold.
SCHEFFLER'S TEE SHOT ON THE 18TH MISSES FAIRWAY
Scheffler fails to find the fairway on the last and will have a tricky decision whether he can go for the green in two. But he takes the shot on from 180 yards in the rough and finds the green to leave a birdie putt.
BRILLIANT TEE SHOT FROM FLEETWOOD ON THE PAR 3 16TH
Fleetwood, trailing Scheffler by a shot, has just boldly taken on the pin cut tight to the water on the par 3 16th and teed up a birdie putt from about six foot. If he can make it and Scheffler struggles on the last, the gold medal could yet be his. This is incredibly exciting.
SCHEFFLER ON THE GREEN ON THE 18TH AND BACK IN BOX SEAT
Superb shot from Scheffler there on to the last green. He will have a putt to get to -20. And he will need it after Fleetwood took on the 16th and made a birdie to join Scheffler on -19. Scheffler is over it now and it slides past the hole leaving him four feet uphill coming back which he makes for a brilliant -9 final round.
Fleetwood misses the fairway on the 17th
Fleetwood could win gold with a birdie - birdie finish but his tee shot on the par 4 17th misses the fairway. But he puts his second just over the back of the green from 176 yards with a bit of a flyer. He will need to rely on his clutch short game here if he is to force a play-off for the gold with Scheffler.
HEAVY HANDED CHIP BY FLEETWOOD ON THE 17TH
Fleetwood will have a testing par putt on the 17th after a clumsy chip from over the back of the green as he bids to get up and down for par to stay level at the top with Scheffler. His putt slides by and Scheffler is now alone at the top of the leaderboard
SCHEFFLER WARMS UP IN CASE OF PLAY-OFF AS FLEETWOOD TEES OFF
Scheffler is on the range preparing for a potential play-off for the gold medal as Fleetwood tees off on the last and puts his shot to the edge of the fairway. But that is a decent drive and he will be able to take the pin on from there chasing the birdie he needs to force a playoff for gold. His approach comes out hot though and is long and left.
Scheffler has one hand on the gold medal as Fleetwood misses the 18th
Fleetwood needs a birdie up the last to force a play-off with Scheffler, who is in the clubhouse on -19. But the Great British golfer has put his second to the last long and left. He must now hole out to force a play-off or get up and down for silver.
FLEETWOOD WITH TESTING CHIP ON THE 18TH
Fleetwood, who failed to get up and down on the 17th as he dropped a shot, is over the back of the 18th in two. He needs to hole out to force a play-off for gold with Scheffler or get up and down for par for the silver medal to avoid a play-off for that with Matsuyama.
SCHEFFLER WINS GOLD!
Fleetwood's chip for birdie slides by - it was a great effort - and that is confirmation Scottie Scheffler of USA has won gold following his stunning -9 final round. Fleetwood will get silver if he can make a five footer for par.
Congratulations Scottie Scheffler 👏🥇A brilliant showcase of golf on the Olympic stage ⛳️ pic.twitter.com/6BecsMZoOxAugust 4, 2024
FLEETWOOD PARS THE LAST TO CLAIM SILVER MEDAL
Fleetwood's par at the last is confirmation he is second on -18 and Hideki Matsuyama gets bronze on -17.
Adding a gold medal to his collection. 🥇#Paris2024 | #OlympicS pic.twitter.com/8wrtfQuXzwAugust 4, 2024
MORE CELEBRATIONS FOR THE SCHEFFLERS AFTER EPIC YEAR
A win for the Schefflers! 🥰#Paris2024 | #Olympics pic.twitter.com/EGXHTxLkGbAugust 4, 2024
McIlroy reflects on his near miss after costly double bogey on the 15th
McIlroy finished fifth on -15 but could have got a medal had he not gone in the water from his wedge shot en-route to a double bogey on the 15th. He reflected: "I had a wedge in my hand on 15 and you birdie that and get to 18-under and tied for the lead. Any medal is possible at that point. I hit the shot I wanted to hit but I didn't get the ball in the air enough for the wind to carry it the extra three or four yards I needed to. I tried to stay aggressive and land a wedge between the front edge and the hole. Missed my spot by nearly three or four yards and that ended up costing me a medal."
Scheffler collects his gold after brilliant final round
Defending champion Schauffele unhappy with his efforts but pleased USA won gold
Schauffele had a back nine to forget as he fell out of contention to finish on -12 out of the medals but he was pleased for USA team-mate Scheffler. The Open champion reflected: "He's been piling up trophies left and right and he keeps moving away from what is the pack of people chasing him in the world. He's been playing unbelievable golf and i'm very happy for him. When I take my competitive hat off and put my USA patriot hat on, I'm very happy that we won another Gold Medal."
RAHM REFLECTS ON PAINFUL COLLAPSE
At -20 with a four shot lead earlier today, the gold medal appeared almost certain to be going to Spain before Rahm carded a back nine of 39 - including six dropped shots. He said: "I don't remember the last time I played a tournament and I felt this -- 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 it to be."
🥇🥈🥉#Paris2024 | #Golf pic.twitter.com/NwJ5ymRZ8uAugust 4, 2024
OUR CHAMPION GETS EMOTIONAL DURING NATIONAL ANTHEM
