**GOLF NEWS** Olympic golf: Nelly Korda begins her defence after Scottie Scheffler gold https://t.co/Jy7GQSf4DR
— Yes Golfing – Scotland ⛳️ 🏴 (@ScotGolfing) August 5, 2024
Scottie Scheffler’s incredible back-nine 29 at Le Golf National earned him an Olympic gold medal and a spot among America’s most outstanding Olympic legends.
The Back-Nine Comeback of Scottie Scheffler
Scheffler’s final day performance was simply breathtaking. Despite trailing top players Jon Rahm and Xander Schauffele by four shots at the start of the last round, Scottie Scheffler found himself seven strokes behind midway through his game.
Nonetheless, he made an exceptional comeback on the back nine with six birdies, which included a remarkable streak of four consecutive ones from holes 14 to 17. His fantastic display culminated in tying a course record with a scorecard reading 62 that eventually secured him the coveted gold medal prize.
“Mostly we were just trying to stay patient,” Scheffler said. “When I saw that Rahm had gotten to 20, I kind of changed a little bit mentally to just really try to do my best to move my way up the leaderboard. I didn’t even really know if I was in contention or not. I was just trying to do my best to make some birdies and start moving up and maybe get a medal or something like that. And I was fortunate to execute some shots there down the stretch.”
Acclaim for the Guidance of Caddie Ted Scott
Scottie Scheffler’s humility was evident as he credited his caddie, Ted Scott, with helping him navigate the challenging greens of Le Golf National. Scott’s experience from the 2018 Ryder Cup proved invaluable, and Scheffler praised Scott for keeping him focused and in the right headspace throughout the competition.
Scottie Scheffler expressed, “Despite feeling like I was executing things effectively, I wasn’t reaping the rewards. Observing exceptional players soar up the leaderboard made me sense they were distancing themselves from me. As always, Teddy came to mind because his proficiency in ensuring my mental state is optimal enables me to remain focused and dedicated when taking shots. Undoubtedly this week has been one of those occasions.”
Tommy Fleetwood secured the silver medal, finishing just one shot behind Scottie Scheffler, while Hideki Matsuyama took home the bronze with a final-round 65. Rahm, who seemed poised to win after reaching 20 under, faltered on the back nine with four bogeys and a double bogey, finishing in a tie for fifth.
Rahm expressed his disappointment, stating, “It wasn’t terrible, but the three-putt issue persisted all week. My main mistake was the third shot on 14—I can’t go left. I compounded mistakes on that hole and paid the price. I feel like I let myself and my country down. Losing today gave me a deeper appreciation of how much this tournament means than winning any medal could have.”
Scheffler’s win at Le Golf National, with daily attendance reaching over 20,000 fans, has given Olympic golf a new level of prestige. The event, characterized by its electrifying atmosphere, demonstrated that Olympic golf can surpass the excitement of regular tour events.
Scheffler reflected on his achievement, saying, “I don’t think too much about my legacy as a golfer. That’s not really something that comes to mind. I love being out here competing. It’s one of my favorite things in the world to do and it’s a great joy in my life. It’s something that I work very hard at. I’m proud to be sitting here with a gold medal. I’m just out here competing and trying to stay present and working as hard as I can and trying to get the most out of myself.”
With his gold medal victory, Scottie Scheffler joins the ranks of legendary American Olympians, his extraordinary back-nine performance etched in the annals of Olympic history.
