Scottie Scheffler remained remarkably composed on Sunday, August 4 2024 as he delivered the greatest closing round of his career at the Paris Olympics.
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In the final two hours of the competition, charges and collapses created pure theater, culminating with the Olympic gold medal draped around the neck of the world’s No. 1 golfer.
Scheffler’s emotions were in check until he stood on the top podium. As the final bars of the national anthem echoed across Le Golf National, he lost control, with tears streaming down his face.
Holding the medal with his right hand across his chest, he raised his left arm to cover his sobs.
“This has been a long week, a challenging week. I played some great golf today, and I’m proud to be going home with a medal,” Scheffler said. “These guys played tremendous golf, and I think we should all be proud of the golf that we played this week.”
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Starting the final round four shots behind and trailing by six early on the back nine, Scheffler birdied five of the last six holes and matched the course record with a 9-under 62 for a one-shot victory over Tommy Fleetwood.
It was a breathtaking display, marking the best of the three men’s competitions since golf returned to the Olympic program in 2016. The event captivated 30,000 spectators who got their money’s worth watching the intense battle unfold.
Scheffler’s remarkable surge included shooting 29 on the back nine. Meanwhile, Fleetwood shot 66 and Hideki Matsuyama, despite having birdie opportunities on the final six holes, had to settle for pars, finishing with a 65 to win the bronze.
Reflecting on his victory, Scheffler said, “It was just very emotional being up there on stage as the flag is being raised and singing the national anthem. That’s definitely one I’ll remember for a long time.”
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