Tour Confidential: Thrilling Olympics finish, winners and disappointments
The men's Olympics Golf competition was a thriller.
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Check in every week for the unfiltered opinions of our writers and editors as they break down the hottest topics in the sport, and join the conversation by tweeting us at @golf_com. This week we look back at the thrilling men’s Olympic Golf competition, the biggest winners and disappointments, and look ahead to the women’s competition.
1. Scottie Scheffler shot a blistering final-round 62 to win gold at the Olympics, beating Tommy Fleetwood (silver) by one and Hideki Matsuyama (bronze) by two. A ton of stars were in the mix on Sunday, and Fleetwood even had a chance to force a playoff for gold but failed to birdie the 18th. Where does this finish rank among the best Sundays on Tour this season?
Inside Scottie Scheffler’s Olympic charge and the most electric finish of the year
Josh Sens, senior writer (@joshsens): I’ll give Olympic Sunday the silver. That was riveting stuff from Scheffler against a first-rate group of contenders, but when you combine the prestige of the event, the quality of the course and the drama of the finish, the U.S. Open still gets the gold for the season.
Jack Hirsh, assistant editor (@JR_HIRSHey): I agree, this was by far one of the best finishes in terms of excitement for the season. I’ll rank both the U.S. Open and the Players Championship ahead of it just because it felt like by the time Fleetwood got to 18 tee, we already knew Scheffler was going to win. Pinehurst and Sawgrass kept us on the edge of our seats just a tad bit longer.
Dylan Dethier, senior writer (@dylan_dethier): My colleagues are in the right ballpark here; Scheffler (very likely) had the title wrapped up by the time the final group teed off 18, so it lacked a photo finish. But I’m a massive fan of the Olympics and the novelty of the day — only one of these every four years! — appeals to me tremendously. The wild leaderboard swings were unpredictable and incredible. And consider that the four pre-tournament favorites (Scottie, Xander, Rory, Rahm), who are arguably the four best golfers in the world (though Bryson and Morikawa would like a word) were all very much in the mix for much of Sunday and this one’s tough to beat. Watching history in real time.
2. Jon Rahm shot four over on the back on Sunday (and finished four back of Scheffler), Fleetwood made a late bogey on 17, Rory McIlroy made a costly double and 54-hole co-leader Xander Schauffele shot 73 on Sunday. Who’s leaving the Olympics the most disappointed?
After gut-wrenching near-miss for gold, Tommy Fleetwood focuses on the positive
Sens: Part of me wants to say Schauffele because he had a rare chance to defend the gold. But it’s got to be Rahm, who could have put a sweet cap on what has been such a strange, sour season. That very poor final nine is sure to leave a bitter taste.
Hirsh: I was about to say Schauffele can’t prove much more this season, then I realized I still don’t believe he will win Player of the Year. Had he won the Gold medal, I think he would have really made a case to beat out Scheffler. But to not even medal after looking so dominant for 61 holes, and let Scheffler take the top spot in the process, he only has one avenue to beat out Scheffler in my mind and that’s to win the FedEx Cup and I think it would still be a tough sell.
Dethier: It has to be Rahm. He had a three-shot lead! He was in the driver’s seat! He birdied No. 10 and then, on the last eight holes, Scottie Scheffler beat him by 10. Ouch.
3. Who won the Olympics without winning the Olympics?
‘Oh, sh*t, am I actually in this?’ Home-country darling sends Olympics into frenzy
Sens: There were a number of feel-good stories heading into this one, including Camillo Villegas, who withdrew from the Olympics in Rio so he could try to retain his Tour card (and later went through such terrible heartache, losing a daughter to illness). But in the competition itself, I’ll go with France’s own Victor Perez. First, he has the honor of hitting the opening shot, and then rounds things out by making a legit run at the gold on Sunday. Birdie-birdie-eagle-birdie-birdie! Not even the most insouciant Parisian could have feigned boredom at that.
Hirsh: I’m pretty sure it’s “Golf at the Olympics,” right? Not exactly a “who,” but I don’t really think there’s a better answer. There was so much talk about whether golf should remain in the Olympics and while I think it’s clear a gold medal is still valued below the majors by most players, it’s clearly gaining prestige. We have to remember that this is just the third Olympics with golf back in the lineup. There are still tweaks to be made and I firmly believe there should be a team competition, but it’s clear golf has cemented its place in global sport’s showcase.
Dethier: Yes and yes. I’ll add Hideki Matsuyama, who was devastated to narrowly miss out on a medal at his home games in Tokyo but earned redemption via bronze on Sunday.
4. Schauffele made the PGA Tour Player of the Year race tighter when he won his second major title at the Open Championship, but did Scheffler’s gold lock up the honor, even with three playoff events remaining?
Scottie Scheffler steals Olympic gold medal with epic comeback in Paris
Sens: I think so. Especially when you consider the way he did it, blazing from behind to overtake Schauffele himself. That said, if we’re placing bets on Player of the Year in 2025, I’m putting the house on Xander. His big breakthroughs this year feel like signs of lots, lots more to come.
Hirsh: See my answer above. Yes.
Dethier: When Xander wins the FedEx Cup we’re going to have a fascinating discussion.
5. We aren’t done at Le Golf National yet, with the women’s Olympic Golf competition beginning on Wednesday. What’s your storyline to watch, and who wins?
Nelly and Xander won Olympic gold. Now they want something more
Sens: Nelly Korda. In what has been a remarkable season, she’s now got a chance to defend her gold.
Hirsh: In two Olympics, only one player, male or female, has medaled in both. Lydia Ko has been chasing her final Hall of Fame point literally the entire season. How amazing would it be for her to clinch that elusive last point by winning gold and medaling for the third straight games? Talk about longevity.
Dethier: Nelly Korda has to be the top storyline; she won six events in seven starts, then missed three cuts in a row. Now what?!
If you’re looking for another contender just head to No. 2 in the Rolex Ranking; Lilia Vu has been really strong since returning from injury. It’ll be even more fun viewing now that we’ve had a week to get accustomed to the course and its rhythm of play.
6. The PGA Tour regular season comes to a close this week with the Wyndham Championship, where pros are still battling for positioning (including the top 70 to make the playoffs). Whose scenario are you most interested in with the FedEx Cup Playoffs looming?
Sens: Hmm, well. Matt Kuchar is trying to keep a streak of 17-straight playoff appearances alive. And while I can’t say the excitement of that is keeping me awake at night, it’s more compelling than wondering whether Andrew Putnam will leapfrog Brandon Todd. The guys on the bubble obviously have some built-in interest. This year, though, I’ll be more drawn to what happens near the top as the playoffs come down the stretch. The horse race between Schauffele and Scheffler–both coming off epic seasons, both in primo form– should provide some decent theater.
Hirsh: The fact that pros aren’t battling for their Tour cards at this event any more diminishes some of the intrigue for me. That said the list of those on the outside looking in right now is pretty stout. Olympics hero Victor Perez is No. 71! Also on the outside are Lucas Glover, Keith Mitchell, Nicolai Hojgaard, Michael Kim, Joel Dahmen, Alejandro Tosti and four winner’s this season! But the most intriguing name is Rickie Fowler who is 104th after a bizarre follow-up year to his resurgent 2023. He’s not playing the Wyndham so his regular season is over, but it’s but a very strange year for sure for Fowler.
Dethier: I find myself most intrigued by the presence of Jordan Spieth, who at No. 63 in the FedEx Cup is likely a safe bet to make the playoffs but has some work to do if he’s going to crack the top-50 and punch his ticket to the 2024 Signature Events. It’s admittedly anticlimactic going from medal talk to FedEx Cup points talk — but by next weekend we’ll be fired up again for another tight finish. Golf!!
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