After three days of golf at the 2024 Paris Olympics, all three medals are still up for grabs. The United States' Xander Schauffele -- the reigning, defending gold medalist from the 2020 Tokyo Games -- and Spain's Jon Rahm take a share of the lead into the final round at Le Golf National, while Great Britain's Tommy Fleetwood would occupy the final spot on the podium if competition entered Saturday sitting one shot back of the co-leaders.
Schauffele on Sunday will aim to become the first man in the history of Olympic golf competition to successfully defend his medal, while Rahm hopes to become the first Spanish golfer to win gold at the Summer Games. Fleetwood could join Justin Rose (2016) as the second Brit to win gold. It will not come easy for any of them, though, as there are several stars just off the podium who know one more round of quality golf could turn a fruitless week into a memorable one.
Here's the top of the leaderboard following Round 3:
T1. Xander Schauffele (United States): -14
T1. Jon Rahm (Spain): -14
3. Tommy Fleetwood (Great Britain): -13
T4. Nicolai Hojgaard (Denmark): -11
T4. Hideki Matsuyama (Japan): -11
T6. Rory McIlroy (Ireland): -10
T6. Scottie Scheffler (United States): -10
T6. Tom Kim (Korea): -10
T6. Thomas Detry (Belgium): -10
While the history of golf in the Olympics is not extensive, if the last playing in 2021 taught us anything, it is to expect the unexpected on Sunday. A closing 61 in Tokyo saw South Africa's Rory Sabbatini slide in and steal the silver, eluding a seven-man playoff for bronze. While the names of Schauffele, Rahm and Fleetwood hold weight, late-competition pressure combined with ideal scoring conditions could lead others like Scheffler and McIlroy to the podium.
Déjà vu?
As mentioned, the 2020 Olympics featured a seven-man playoff for bronze with Taiwan's C.T. Pan ultimately coming away with the final spot on the podium. Three years later and a similar situation -- with some of the same names -- could transpire at Le Golf National as a congested leaderboard has produced 11 players within four strokes of the bronze position as 18 holes remain.
"It would have been nice to be able to squeeze a couple more shots out of the back nine," McIlroy said. "But I think tomorrow, depending on what the leaders do, I'm going to have to probably shoot my lowest round of the week to have a chance at a medal. That's the goal."
Double medal opportunity
Though each player is a member of a team, they are more or less competing as individuals. Still, there are some nations who are in position to grab not only one but possibly two medals. The United States has Schauffele and Scheffler, who account for half the American team, both inside the top 10, while Denmark made a big move on Saturday. Hojgaard tied the course record at Le Golf National with his 9-under 62 as Thorbjorn Olesen tried his damnedest to keep pace with his countryman, climbing inside the top 15.
"Every time you get up there and you're in the week, it doesn't matter which tournament it is. You can always feel the nerves, but that's what we practice and play for," Hojgaard said. "So, it was pretty cool to see and good to convince myself again that I can do it down the stretch in the third round. But now, it's a completely different thing tomorrow. We are going to go out, there's medal the on the line. Going to go out and try to do the same thing and stay patient. It's always slightly tough on a Sunday. We are in a perfect position after today's round."
France's best chance
In Tokyo, Matsuyama was in the final group in the final round only to fall off the pace and eject himself early from the bronze-medal playoff. Victor Perez (-8) is the top player capable of fling the home nation's flag this week as he has given himself a chance -- albeit a slim one -- to add to France's medal count. After a nervy start Thursday that saw him drop to 3 over for the tournament, Perez has battled back significantly. He played the back nine as well as anyone with 14 birdies and just one bogey on that side of the golf course.
Matt Fitzpatrick withdraws
While one of Great Britain's flags flies near the top of the leaderboard, the other has been taken off it. Fitzpatrick withdrew from the competition after the completion of his third round due to a thumb injury. The former U.S. Open champion dropped 40 spots on the leaderboard on Saturday as he carded an 81 while dealing with the injury after opening with rounds of 73-64.
2024 Olympics updated odds, picks
- Jon Rahm: 7/5
- Xander Schauffele: 7/4
- Tommy Fleetwood: 8-1
- Scottie Scheffler: 14-1
- Rory McIlroy: 20-1
- Hideki Matsuyama: 25-1
Rahm has been stellar this week from tee to green, but it is hard not to look at the other two-time major champion as the one who ultimately gets the job done. Schauffele will be comfortable with the gold medal nerves and has turned into a strong closer this season. He hasn't had the entirety of his game cooperate for a full round, but yet he sleeps on a share of the lead.
If looking for a larger price, then Scheffler and McIlroy are the likely options from four back. McIlroy has done plenty of scoring this week and turned in a bogey-free effort on Saturday while Scheffler has yet to gain strokes on the greens.
Rick Gehman and Patrick McDonald recap the third round of the 2024 Olympic Men's Golf Competition at Le Golf National. Follow & listen to The First Cut onApple PodcastsandSpotify.
