Historic seven-man play-off for bronze medal

American Xander Schauffele played some wonderful golf at the par-71 Kasumigazeki Country Club in Japan to become the second Olympic golf champion in recent years.  It was more than 100 years ago that golf was part and parcel of the Olympics.  On Sunday, Schauffele shot a 4-under par round of 67 to win the Olympic Gold Medal by one shot with a tally of 18-under par (68,63,68,67). Nudging on his shoulder within a hair’s breadth of a play-off was the South African born Rory Sabbatini.

 

The 27-year old Schauffele got off to a good start on Thursday with a 3-under par 68.  He was tied with fellow countryman Patrick Reed.  But when you consider the leader from Austria, Sepp Straka had recorded an 8-under 63, then you know there is a lot of work still to be done.  With just 60 players in the field, luckily there is not a halfway cut.  Everyone is in with a chance, according to the organising Olympic Committee.

 

 

 

Day two saw Xander Schauffele make a move up the leaderboard after he recorded a sumptuous 63.  Leader Sepp Straka shot a level par round.  But it was early days with many in contention including the newly-crowned Open Champion, Collin Morikawa (USA), and other Major winners like Rory McIlroy (Northern Ireland) and Japan’s Masters winner Hideki Matsuyama.

 

On Saturday, Schauffele nudged one shot ahead of the field after making a birdie-birdie start.  Yet a bogey at the 14th hole took its toll.  The game was set for a scintillating final on Sunday.  Schauffele finished as the leader on day three capturing an impressive 14-under par after a 3-under 68.  Matsuyama was just one shot off the lead.

 

Schauffele’s Olympic story

 

Xander Schauffele’s Olympics story is intriguing.  He is the son of a French-German father, Stefan, and a mother, Ping Yi, born in Chinese Taipei before being raised in Japan.  His parents met at San Diego’s International University.  Neither of them could speak the others language.  Three months later they married.  Stefan took his Olympic dream with him to America.  His dream was to become an Olympic decathlete.  A dream which was destroyed when a drunk driver rammed his car.  However, back to the good news.  It is wonderful to realise that Xander Schauffele has maternal grandparents that live in Tokyo.  He has visited them on a number of occasions.  In some weird fate of reality it also became Xander’s destiny to win a medal in these Olympics.  What could be better than an Olympic Gold?

 

On Sunday, Xander Schauffele’s game felt the pinch on the final four holes at Kasumigazeki.  His lead disappeared after a bogey on the reachable par-5 14th where he eventually made a 5-foot putt to save bogey.  The next two holes were easy pars.  On the 17th, he holed an 8-foot birdie putt.

 

Alas, with a one-shot lead, Schauffele drove into the trees on the right down the last.  He then chose to lay-up short on the 502-yard reachable par 4 before hitting a wedge to about five feet.  The absolute joy for him was to hole this putt to win the Olympic Gold Medal for himself and, just as importantly, for Team USA.  A score of 18-under par earned him gold, one shot better than Rory Sabbatini, the silver medalist, who was playing under the Slovakian flag. Yes, the South African born Rory Sabbatini also has Slovakian citizenship due to his wife.

 

Historical seven-man play-off for Bronze

 

With the first two medals decided, an historic battle ensued to determine which of seven players – a record in the Olympics – all on 15-under par, would win bronze.  It was an exciting play-off with players dramatically dropping off after a turbulent hole.

 

 

 

So who was in the play-off for bronze?  A mix of mighty and up-and-coming: Collin Morikawa, Hideki Matsuyama, Rory McIlroy, Mito Pereira, C.T. Pan, Paul Casey and Sebastian Munoz.  The play-off was over a circuit of four holes: the 18th, 10th, 11th and finally the 18th once again.

 

The second time they played the 18th, the seven man play-off was down to just two: Morikawa and Pan.  The verdict?  Well, surprise, surprise, C.T. Pan consolidated his closing 8-under par 63 with bronze victory over the recently-crowned Open Champion Morikawa on the fourth extra play-off hole.

 

Another highlight from Sunday was Rory Sabbatini who set the Olympic record with a 61 finishing with a fist-pumping birdie on the last hole.

 

Golf at these Olympics was once again a very special occasion.  One would expect a Major Champion to rise to the challenge.  Instead the thrill of winning an Olympic Gold at the Kasumigazeki Country Club went to the four time PGA winner, Xander Schauffele.  He won the Olympic Gold Medal for an outstanding performance.

 

 

Many congratulations to you Xander Schauffele!  Your victory with a Gold Medal in Tokyo is simply brilliant for you, and for America! Enjoy all the attention that the medal brings you.

 

Wendy Hoad

 

 

 

2021 Olympic medals in Tokyo

Gold Medal – Xander Schauffele (USA)  68,63,68,67  (266)  18-under

Silver Medal – Rory Sabbatini (Slovakia)  69,67,70,61  (267)  17-under

Bronze Medal – C.T. Pan (Taiwan)*  74,66,66,63  (269)  15-under

*after a 7-man play-off

 

 

NEXT OLYMPIC GOLF DATE:  The ladies Olympic Strokeplay Championship begins at the Kasumigazeki Country Club on Wednesday, 4 August until Saturday, 7 August 2021.

 

 

© MAIN PHOTOGRAPH: A proud moment for American Xander Schauffele as he is awarded the Olympic Gold Medal in Tokyo. MINIS (l-r): Paul Casey, Hideki Matsuyama, Mito Pereira. BELOW: (l-r): Collin Morikawa and Sebastian Munoz.