‘One of the biggest collapses, chokes of the year’: Golf stunned by Rahm’s Olympic disaster

Scottie Scheffler’s Spectacular Final Round: A Journey from Near Defeat to Olympic Glory

In a dramatic display of skill and determination, Scottie Scheffler delivered the finest closing round of his career to capture Olympic gold. His performance, marked by composure and brilliance, culminated in a thrilling victory that had the sports world riveted.

 

As the final moments of the tournament unfolded at Le Golf National, Scheffler showcased an unparalleled level of play. He began the final round trailing by four shots, and his prospects seemed dim as he fell six shots behind early on the back nine. However, the world’s No. 1 men’s golfer had other plans. Scheffler staged a breathtaking comeback, birdieing five of the last six holes and matching the course record with a 9-under 62. This remarkable finish earned him a one-shot victory over Tommy Fleetwood, capping off a tournament that was nothing short of a spectacle.

 

The dramatic climax of the event saw Scheffler standing atop the podium, Olympic gold medal around his neck. As the national anthem played and the crowd of 30,000 roared, Scheffler’s emotions overcame him. With the medal hanging from his right hand and pressed against his chest, he raised his left arm to cover his tears. It was a poignant moment of vulnerability for the usually unflappable golfer, revealing the depth of his emotional investment in this historic win.

 

“It’s been a long week. It’s been a challenging week,” Scheffler reflected after his victory. “I played some great golf today, and I’m proud to be going home with a medal.” He expressed admiration for his competitors, saying, “These guys played tremendous golf and I think we should all be proud of the golf that we played this week.”

 

The final round of this Olympic golf tournament was a showcase of high drama and intense competition. Scheffler’s remarkable surge was the highlight, with a back nine score of 29 propelling him to the top. Fleetwood’s steady play, finishing with a 66, kept him in contention, while Hideki Matsuyama, despite having birdie opportunities on the final six holes, had to settle for a 65 and the bronze medal.

 

The tournament also saw unexpected and dramatic collapses. Jon Rahm, who entered the final round with a four-shot lead, saw his chances evaporate with a double bogey that effectively ended his bid for gold. Rory McIlroy’s chances were dashed when he hit a wedge into the water, and Xander Schauffele, the reigning PGA and British Open champion, faltered with a 4-over par stretch over four holes, ending his hopes of another gold medal.

 

Jason Day of Australia delivered a commendable performance, finishing ninth on the leaderboard. Yet, it was Rahm’s collapse that generated significant buzz. The reigning Masters champion, who had recently made headlines for his defection to LIV Golf, was clearly shaken by his performance. Golf pundit Brandel Chamblee described it as “one of the biggest collapses, chokes of the year,” drawing comparisons to McIlroy’s performance at the US Open.

 

Rahm’s reaction was one of deep disappointment. “I’ve been saying all week that I would know how much this means when the tournament was over,” Rahm said, his voice filled with emotion. “Sometimes you know when you win, but you definitely know when you don’t win it, and this just stings on a different emotional level. Hurts right now more than I expected.”

 

For Scheffler, the path to victory was not immediately clear. He admitted that, at times, he was unsure of his position in the standings. “I saw that Rahm had gotten to 20-under, and so I kind of changed a little bit mentally to just really try to do my best to move my way up the leaderboard,” Scheffler said. “At one point, I didn’t even really know if I was in contention or not.”

 

It was only after checking the leaderboard behind the 16th green that Scheffler realized his chance. On the 15th hole, he made an impressive wedge shot to within a foot, moving him within one shot of the lead. His birdie on the 17th and a decisive 8-iron shot on the 18th hole put him ahead for the first time in the tournament, securing the gold medal.

 

Xander Schauffele, who had been a competitor in the tournament, expressed his admiration for Scheffler’s achievement. “He’s been piling up trophies left and right and he keeps moving away from what is the pack of people chasing him in the world,” Schauffele said. “When I take my competitive hat off and put my USA patriot hat on, I’m very happy that we won another gold medal.”

 

Scottie Scheffler’s Olympic victory was a testament to his resilience and skill, providing a thrilling conclusion to a week of intense competition and unforgettable moments.