{"id":15546636,"date":"2024-08-04T19:48:22","date_gmt":"2024-08-04T23:48:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/golf.com\/?post_type=article&p=15546636"},"modified":"2024-10-28T11:45:37","modified_gmt":"2024-10-28T15:45:37","slug":"tour-confidential-thrilling-olympics-finish","status":"publish","type":"article","link":"https:\/\/golf.com\/news\/tour-confidential-thrilling-olympics-finish\/","title":{"rendered":"Tour Confidential: Thrilling Olympics finish, winners and disappointments"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Check in\u00a0<\/em>every week<\/em><\/a>\u00a0for the unfiltered opinions of our writers and editors as they break down the hottest topics in the sport, and join the conversation by tweeting us at\u00a0<\/em>@golf_com<\/em><\/a>. This week we look back at the thrilling men\u2019s Olympic Golf competition, the biggest winners and disappointments, and look ahead to the women’s competition.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Scottie Scheffler shot a blistering final-round 62 to win gold at the Olympics<\/a>, beating Tommy Fleetwood (silver) by one and Hideki Matsuyama (bronze) by two. A ton of stars were in the mix on Sunday<\/a>, and Fleetwood even had a chance to force a playoff for gold but failed to birdie the 18th. Where does this finish rank among the best Sundays on Tour this season?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n

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\n \n News <\/a>\n <\/div>\n \n \n \"Scottie <\/a>\n <\/div>\n
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Inside Scottie Scheffler’s Olympic charge and the most electric finish of the year<\/a><\/blockquote>\n By:<\/span>\n \n \n Sean Zak <\/a>\n \n <\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n<\/section>\n\n\n

Josh Sens, senior writer (@joshsens<\/a>): <\/strong>I\u2019ll give Olympic Sunday the silver. That was riveting stuff from Scheffler against a first-rate group of contenders, but when you combine the prestige of the event, the quality of the course and the drama of the finish, the U.S. Open still gets the gold for the season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jack Hirsh, assistant editor (@JR_HIRSHey<\/a>): <\/strong>I agree, this was by far one of the best finishes in terms of excitement for the season. I\u2019ll rank both the U.S. Open and the Players Championship ahead of it just because it felt like by the time Fleetwood got to 18 tee, we already knew Scheffler was going to win. Pinehurst and Sawgrass kept us on the edge of our seats just a tad bit longer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dylan Dethier, senior writer (@dylan_dethier<\/a>): <\/strong>My colleagues are in the right ballpark here; Scheffler (very likely) had the title wrapped up by the time the final group teed off 18, so it lacked a photo finish. But I\u2019m a massive fan of the Olympics and the novelty of the day \u2014 only one of these every four years! \u2014 appeals to me tremendously. The wild leaderboard swings were unpredictable and incredible. And consider that the four pre-tournament favorites (Scottie, Xander, Rory, Rahm), who are arguably the four best golfers in the world (though Bryson and Morikawa would like a word) were all very much in the mix for much of Sunday and this one\u2019s tough to beat. Watching history in real time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Jon Rahm shot four over on the back on Sunday<\/a> (and finished four back of Scheffler), Fleetwood made a late bogey<\/a> on 17, Rory McIlroy made a costly double<\/a> and 54-hole co-leader Xander Schauffele shot 73 on Sunday. Who\u2019s leaving the Olympics the most disappointed?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n

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\n \n News <\/a>\n <\/div>\n \n \n \"Tommy <\/a>\n <\/div>\n
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After gut-wrenching near-miss for gold, Tommy Fleetwood focuses on the positive<\/a><\/blockquote>\n By:<\/span>\n \n \n Jessica Marksbury <\/a>\n \n <\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n<\/section>\n\n\n

Sens: <\/strong>Part of me wants to say Schauffele because he had a rare chance to defend the gold. But it\u2019s got to be Rahm, who could have put a sweet cap on what has been such a strange, sour season. That very poor final nine is sure to leave a bitter taste.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hirsh: <\/strong>I was about to say Schauffele can\u2019t prove much more this season, then I realized I still don\u2019t believe he will win Player of the Year. Had he won the Gold medal, I think he would have really made a case to beat out Scheffler. But to not even medal after looking so dominant for 61 holes, and let Scheffler take the top spot in the process, he only has one avenue to beat out Scheffler in my mind and that\u2019s to win the FedEx Cup and I think it would still be a tough sell.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dethier<\/strong>: It has to be Rahm. He had a three-shot lead! He was in the driver\u2019s seat! He birdied No. 10 and then, on the last eight holes, Scottie Scheffler beat him by 10. Ouch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Who won the Olympics without winning the Olympics?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n

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\n \n News <\/a>\n <\/div>\n \n \n \"Victor <\/a>\n <\/div>\n
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‘Oh, sh*t, am I actually in this?’ Home-country darling sends Olympics into frenzy<\/a><\/blockquote>\n By:<\/span>\n \n \n Jack Hirsh <\/a>\n \n <\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n<\/section>\n\n\n

Sens: <\/strong>There were a number of feel-good stories heading into this one, including Camillo Villegas, who withdrew from the Olympics in Rio so he could try to retain his Tour card (and later went through such terrible heartache, losing a daughter to illness). But in the competition itself, I\u2019ll go with France\u2019s own Victor Perez. First, he has the honor of hitting the opening shot, and then rounds things out by making a legit run at the gold on Sunday. Birdie-birdie-eagle-birdie-birdie! Not even the most insouciant Parisian could have feigned boredom at that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hirsh: <\/strong>I\u2019m pretty sure it\u2019s \u201cGolf at the Olympics,\u201d right? Not exactly a \u201cwho,\u201d but I don\u2019t really think there\u2019s a better answer. There was so much talk about whether golf should remain in the Olympics and while I think it\u2019s clear a gold medal is still valued below the majors by most players, it\u2019s clearly gaining prestige. We have to remember that this is just the third Olympics with golf back in the lineup. There are still tweaks to be made and I firmly believe there should be a team competition, but it\u2019s clear golf has cemented its place in global sport\u2019s showcase.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dethier:<\/strong> Yes and yes. I\u2019ll add Hideki Matsuyama, who was devastated to narrowly miss out on a medal at his home games in Tokyo but earned redemption via bronze on Sunday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. Schauffele made the PGA Tour Player of the Year race tighter when he won his second major title at the Open Championship, but did Scheffler\u2019s gold lock up the honor, even with three playoff events remaining?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n

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\n \n News <\/a>\n <\/div>\n \n \n \"American <\/a>\n <\/div>\n
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Scottie Scheffler steals Olympic gold medal with epic comeback in Paris<\/a><\/blockquote>\n By:<\/span>\n \n \n Kevin Cunningham <\/a>\n \n <\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n<\/section>\n\n\n

Sens:<\/strong> I think so. Especially when you consider the way he did it, blazing from behind to overtake Schauffele himself. That said, if we\u2019re placing bets on Player of the Year in 2025, I\u2019m putting the house on Xander. His big breakthroughs this year feel like signs of lots, lots more to come.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hirsh: <\/strong>See my answer above. Yes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dethier:<\/strong> When Xander wins the FedEx Cup we\u2019re going to have a fascinating discussion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5. We aren\u2019t done at Le Golf National yet, with the women\u2019s Olympic Golf competition<\/a> beginning on Wednesday. What\u2019s your storyline to watch, and who wins?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n

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\n \n News <\/a>\n <\/div>\n \n \n \"Xander <\/a>\n <\/div>\n
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Nelly and Xander won Olympic gold. Now they want something more<\/a><\/blockquote>\n By:<\/span>\n \n \n Dylan Dethier <\/a>\n \n <\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n<\/section>\n\n\n

Sens: <\/strong>Nelly Korda. In what has been a remarkable season, she\u2019s now got a chance to defend her gold.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hirsh: <\/strong>In two Olympics, only one player, male or female, has medaled in both. Lydia Ko has been chasing her final Hall of Fame point literally the entire season. How amazing would it be for her to clinch that elusive last point by winning gold and medaling for the third straight games? Talk about longevity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dethier<\/strong>: Nelly Korda has to be the top storyline; she won six events in seven starts, then missed three cuts in a row. Now what?!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 If you\u2019re looking for another contender just head to No. 2 in the Rolex Ranking; Lilia Vu has been really strong since returning from injury. It\u2019ll be even more fun viewing now that we\u2019ve had a week to get accustomed to the course and its rhythm of play.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

6. The PGA Tour regular season comes to a close this week with the Wyndham Championship, where pros are still battling for positioning (including the top 70 to make the playoffs). Whose scenario are you most interested in with the FedEx Cup Playoffs looming?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sens: <\/strong>Hmm, well. Matt Kuchar is trying to keep a streak of 17-straight playoff appearances alive. And while I can\u2019t say the excitement of that is keeping me awake at night, it\u2019s more compelling than wondering whether Andrew Putnam will leapfrog Brandon Todd. The guys on the bubble obviously have some built-in interest. This year, though, I\u2019ll be more drawn to what happens near the top as the playoffs come down the stretch. The horse race between Schauffele and Scheffler\u2013both coming off epic seasons, both in primo form\u2013 should provide some decent theater.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hirsh: <\/strong>The fact that pros aren\u2019t battling for their Tour cards at this event any more diminishes some of the intrigue for me. That said the list of those on the outside looking in right now is pretty stout. Olympics hero Victor Perez is No. 71! Also on the outside are Lucas Glover, Keith Mitchell, Nicolai Hojgaard, Michael Kim, Joel Dahmen, Alejandro Tosti and four winner\u2019s this season! But the most intriguing name is Rickie Fowler who is 104th after a bizarre follow-up year to his resurgent 2023. He\u2019s not playing the Wyndham so his regular season is over, but it\u2019s but a very strange year for sure for Fowler.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dethier<\/strong>: I find myself most intrigued by the presence of Jordan Spieth, who at No. 63 in the FedEx Cup is likely a safe bet to make the playoffs but has some work to do if he\u2019s going to crack the top-50 and punch his ticket to the 2024 Signature Events. It\u2019s admittedly anticlimactic going from medal talk to FedEx Cup points talk \u2014 but by next weekend we\u2019ll be fired up again for another tight finish. Golf!!<\/p>\n\n\n

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<\/div>\n <\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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