Scheffler Charges From Behind To Win Olympic Golf Gold In Dramatic Fashion

Scottie Scheffler poses with his gold medal after competing in the men’s individual stroke play at the Olympic Games Paris 2024 on Aug. 4, 2024 in Paris. (Photo by Getty Images)

SAINT-QUENTIN-EN-YVELINES, France — Scottie Scheffler added an Olympic Golf gold medal to his two Masters Green Jackets.

The Texas golfer did so shooting a tremendous final round, that resulted in a thrilling conclusion all coming down to the 18th hole. Scheffler was leader in the clubhouse, but still the distinct possibility of a gold medal playoff existed.

When Tommy Fleetwood was unable to chip in for birdie on 18, gold belonged to Scheffler. As he was hitting a few shots on the practice tee at that moment – just in case there was a sudden death playoff – the first to congratulate him was his longtime, trusted caddie, Ted Scott.

“It’s been a long week, a challenging week, and I’m just happy to have played some great golf today,” Scheffler told journalists, during a post-victory news conference.

He seized the lead with a key birdie putt on 17, after a clutch 8-iron approach shot from the rough, to drop to minus-19. Chants of “USA, USA, USA” rang out. The score stood up for the gold medal.

Scheffler, whose grandfather served in the Korean War, talked about his emotions when the American flag was raised and the national anthem played at the medal ceremony near the 18th green.

“I’m proud to be an American, and I take tremendous pride coming over here and representing the country,” Scheffler told journalists in the post-tournament news conference. “It was just very emotional being up there on the podium as the flag was raised.”

The world’s No. 1 ranked pro golfer from Dallas carded a sensational closing round, 9-under par 62 to finish the four-round tournament at Le Golf National at 265, 19-under par. It was one stroke better than silver medalist Tommy Fleetwood, while Hideki Matsuyama of Japan finished two shots behind Scheffler to claim bronze.

Scheffler addressed his mood, asked about returning to the practice tee with caddie Scott to prepare for potential extra holes ahead as Fleetwood came up the 17th fairway, the final outcome far from being determined.

“I just tried my best to stay in the moment, to relax and get ready for the playoff. I turned on some music and tried to stay warm,” Scheffler explained, not mentioning munching down a quick sandwich as well.

Fortunately, for Scheffler and his caddie, as well as his wife Meredith and their first child, Bennett, here with him in Paris, the playoff never materialized. Fleetwood struggled and couldn’t deliver on his final two holes.

“He learned how to smile the last couple of weeks, it’s pretty exciting and hanging out with him this week,” Scheffler said, about his young son Bennett. “It will just get more special.”

Scheffler teed off the final round at 10-under, four shots behind third-round leaders – his U.S teammate and Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 gold medalist Xander Schauffele, and Spain’s Jon Rahm.

Scottie Scheffler walks to the first tee during the men’s individual stroke play at the Olympic Games Paris 2024 on Aug. 4, 2024 in Paris. (Photo by Getty Images)

Scheffler calmly, but aggressively took command. He birdied six of his final nine holes for a lights-out 29 on the back nine. He got off to a blazing start making three birdies, but then slowed down slightly with six straight pars. Another birdie on hole 10 stoked the Texas golfer’s fire.

“Ted and I didn’t discuss any specific strategy going into the back nine – I just wanted to make a few birdies and get into contention,” Scheffler said. “Ted did a really good job of helping me to stay patient out there and keeping me in the right headspace.”

It was drama-filled final round with numerous leaderboard swings as Rahm, Fleetwood and Schauffele battled at the top earlier in Sunday’s final round. But first Schauffele, and then Rahm faltered, the Spaniard making bogeys on four consecutive holes and letting a medal evaporate into the French air.

Schauffele – the 2024 PGA and British Open champion – was unable to rekindle the magic that he showcased three years earlier at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, shooting a disappointing 73 on Sunday, and finishing tied for ninth.

“I’m leaning on how I’ve been playing these past couple of months, which is the ball goes exactly the way I look, but today was not that, especially when I needed it the most,” said the defending Olympic golf champion and two-time major champion. “It’s such a cool feeling to be coming down the stretch in medal contention and I was far from that.”

For Schauffele, it was the second consecutive Olympics that he entered the final round holding at least a share of the lead. This time the result wasn’t as it was in Japan.

Despite his disappointing closing round of two-over par, the San Diego golfer said he was excited to see his teammate Scheffler get the job done and achieve two golds in a row for Team USA.

“A cherry on top would not do it justice – Scottie has about 14 cherries on the top of his cake, piling up trophies left and right” he said, about his teammate’s dominant play as the world No. 1 golfer. “I take my competitive hat off and put my Team USA hat and I’m very happy that we won another gold medal.”

Paris 2024 was the fifth Olympic golf tournament – the sport contested at the three previous editions of the Games, following a 112-year hiatus. Scheffler became the third American champion, joining teammate Schauffele and Charles Sands, who won gold at the Olympic Games Paris 1900, golf’s first edition 124-years ago.

The 60-member field this week at La Golf National was stacked, involving 10 major champions, including all four U.S. players, as Collin Morikawa and Wyndham Clark joined Scheffler and Schauffele.

With large than expected galleries at Le Golf National over the past four days, fans waved French flags and vociferously supported French golfer Victor Perez, who fired a 63 Sunday, and at one point was the leader in the clubhouse.

Scheffler and many of his fellow competitors agreed that Olympic golf is in a great place, having further proven its merit in the movement, at the renowned French course southwest of Paris.

“The crowds were great this week – I was surprised how big they were,” Scheffler said.

In four-years at the Olympic Games Los Angeles 2028, at which the Olympic golf will be contested at the Riviera Country Club, Team USA men’s golf will strive to make it three gold medals in a row.