Scottie Scheffler was moved to tears as the anthem rang out while the world number one stood to receive his gold medal as the 2024 Summer Olympics champion.
World number one Scheffler continued his glorious year by adding the Paris Games title to his Masters and Open crowns, showing his specialism for final rounds again to finish on a course record-equalling nine-under 62 and see off Britain’s Tommy Fleetwood.
Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama took bronze ahead of Frenchman Victor Perez, Ireland’s Rory McIlroy and Spainiard Jon Rahm.
What it means ❤️ pic.twitter.com/bKNLBDN7PE
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) August 4, 2024
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Olympic golf results: Scheffler proud
“I take tremendous pride in coming over here and representing my country,” explained Scheffler. “My mum is Italian and my dad is German.
“We’ve been here a few generations. My grandad fought in the Korean war. I learned from a young age to take my hat off and put my hand on my heart for the national anthem.”
In modern times, golf has only been an Olympic sport since 2016 and the tournament delivered high drama among the world’s leading players.
Fleetwood had looked on course for victory but could not match Scheffler’s finale, missing the green on the 17th to damage his prospects.
It’s silver for Tommy Fleetwood! 🥈 ⛳️ pic.twitter.com/BtfyBzbotf
— Team GB (@TeamGB) August 4, 2024
Fleetwood: Olympics golf ‘amazing’
“As a young boy taking up the game of golf, none of us had a chance to win Olympic gold so it was never on our agenda,” said Fleetwood.
“That quickly changes when you’re part of the Olympics and it feels unbelievably special. I know I didn’t win gold but standing on that podium with a medal was one of the most amazing moments I’ve had as a golfer.”
McIlroy described the Games as “probably one of the best individual competitions I’ve been a part of” but was less impressed by his performance.
“It was an amazing experience,” he said, having been hampered by a double bogey on the 15th. “I missed my spot by maybe three or four yards, and that cost me a medal.
“I feel I’ve been golf’s nearly man for the past three years. I want that tide to turn; to go from the nearly man to back to winning tournaments.
“Until I step through the threshold and turn those close misses and close calls into wins, that’s what I need to do.”
