Spaniard in contention with USA and GB
Spaniard Jon Rahm shot a terrific 5-under par 66 in round three of the Olympics at Le Golf National near Paris (1-4 August) to draw even with the leader from America, Xander Schauffele, who is the defending Olympics Champion on a score of 14-under par.
Jon Rahm, the 2023 Masters Champion, has refound his game in France just in time for the Olympic Games. On the first day he carded an impressive 4-under par to lie in a tie for 6th place with six others. He topped that with a 66 on Friday to rise up the leaderboard to 4th spot. He has now added another 66 to share the lead.
Xander Schauffele, who won the PGA Championship and the Open this season, is on a dedicated route to snatch the Olympic title again. He shot a 3-under par 68 on Saturday, when he eagled the par-5, 14th to stay ahead of the 60-man field level with Jon Rahm on a score of 199.
But let’s not forget Great Britain’s Tommy Fleetwood. The 33-year old from Lancashire, who shared the lead after 36 holes with Schauffele and Hideki Matsuyama, backed-up his opening rounds of 67 and 64 with a 69 to now sit neatly one shot behind Schauffele and Rahm on 200.
Alas, Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama carded a rather somber level par round of 71 on Saturday. However, he is still in the running after opening with a 63 and a 68. His score of 11-under par is good enough for a share of 4th spot together with Denmark’s Nicolai Hojgaard.
Twenty-three year old Hojgaard’s brilliant performance at Le Golf National on moving day was a big surprise. He opened the Olympics with two solid rounds of 70 for a 2-under par rather mediocre start. He then shocked the world by shooting a 9-under par in the third round! Yes, a 62!
So how do you make a 9-under par?
Well, if you birdie the 486-yard par-4, 4th and then make more birdies at the 5th, 6th, 8th and 9th. Then make four steady pars. You’re then ready to eagle the 552-yard par-5 14th before finishing with birdies at the 16th and 17th. Yes, a 62 for Nicolai Hojgaard was, in fact, rather easy-peasy!
But let’s not forget Rory McIlroy representing Ireland. The four-times Major winner also shot a 66 on Saturday and now lies in a share of fourth place on 10-under par (203) with World Number One player, Scottie Scheffler (USA), Tom Kim (South Korea) and Belgium’s Thomas Detry. The leading Frenchman in Paris is Victor Perez who shares 13th position on 205.
Sunday at the Olympic Games will be another mouth-watering affair. There are ten players within five shots of the leaders. Who can find another 62 and claim the Olympic Champion title? Will it be another victory for Xander Schauffele? Can Tommy Fleetwood come up trumps at Le Golf National? Guess we’ll just have to wait a couple of hours to see …. Enjoy the golf!
Wendy Hoad
Editor
MAIN PHOTOGRAPH: Spaniard Jon Rahm shares the lead with defending Champion Xander Schauffele.