Scottie Scheffler secured the gold medal for Team USA in men’s golf at the 2024 Paris Olympics, adding a significant achievement to his remarkable season, which is being hailed as one of the greatest in the history of the sport.
England’s Tommy Fleetwood claimed the silver medal but could not maintain his lead on the final nine holes, as Scheffler delivered an impressive final round of 62 that proved insurmountable.
Starting the day four strokes behind Fleetwood and Jon Rahm of Spain, Scheffler’s performance ultimately saw him set new records during a year filled with them.
With six victories already on the PGA Tour this year, including his second Masters title, Scheffler’s Olympic triumph further solidified his status during a season that has excited approximately 30,000 fans over two thrilling hours.
Scheffler surged ahead with four consecutive birdies, culminating in a crucial shot from the deep rough on the 17th hole, where he made an 18-foot birdie putt to clinch the lead for the first time all day. He set an Olympic record with a total score of 72 holes at 19-under 265. Fleetwood, who slipped from the lead after a bogey on the 17th, finished strong with a par on the final hole and a round of 66 to secure silver.
The victory moved Scheffler to tears as he heard the American National Anthem played at Le Golf National, an emotional moment that underscored the significance of the Olympics for even the most accomplished professional golfers.
Scheffler’s final score of 19-under par placed him ahead of Fleetwood, who finished at 18-under, and bronze medalist Hideki Matsuyama, who ended at 17-under.
Victor Perez of France put on a remarkable performance, shooting eight-under par to finish fourth at 16-under, earning loud cheers from the home crowd despite narrowly missing the podium. Meanwhile, Jon Rahm and Rory McIlroy tied for fifth place, both remaining a shot behind as they fell short of the medal positions. Reigning gold medalist Xander Schauffele ended his run in ninth place.
As the anticipated favorite, Scheffler solidified his dominance in the tournament with a stunning final round of 9-under par, capping off a historic Olympic appearance.