There is no show this week, no series this season, on Netflix, Hulu, DisneyPlus or any channel around, that could match the dramatic conclusion of Sunday’s final nine at Le Golf National. The golf world was treated to all of the aforementioned agony and ecstasy that we could possibly imagine.
Say what you will about the major championships, and what else you will about the Ryder, Presidents, and Solheim Cups, but there is nothing like an event where not everyone gets to play, and those who do emerge with medals, are mentioned alongside Babe Didrikson, Jesse Owens, Simone Biles, Jim Thorpe, Michael Phelps, and so many that have summited the Mount Olympus of athletics. It has been an extraordinary pleasure to cover these games; the only thing better would have been a front-row seat for the festivities. Thanks for following along, and enjoy this final dispatch from Saint-Quentin-En-Yvelines.
Viktor Hovland with a phenomenal read and putt for birdie on 4. ???
? Golf Channel and Peaco*ck | #ParisOlympics pic.twitter.com/pfwZZ81NId
— Golf Channel (@GolfChannel) August 4, 2024
Imagine this scenario: a golfer who chose last November to play for the rival league plays the first ten holes on Sunday in six under par. Writers begin to tweet and gram and tok and snap and friendface that Jon Rahm is marching toward a gold medal. Would you believe that this same golfer could possibly finish the next eight holes in such a way, that he would tie for fifth place, completely off the podium?
“I’ve been saying all week that I would know how much this means when the tournament was over. Sometimes you know when you win, but you definitely know when you don’t win it, and this just stings on a different emotional level. Hurts right now more than I expected.”
See AlsoGolf Clubs - Carl's Golfland– Jon Rahm pic.twitter.com/bgKElC5zhR
— Brentley Romine (@BrentleyGC) August 4, 2024
Contemplate this scenario: a contestant known more for his nickname ofFairway Jesus, and his Ryder Cup glory at this same Le Golf Nationale, without a major championship to his name, finds himself in the final threesome on Sunday, but watches as golfers begin to pull away. Undaunted, he lowers his bearded face and pairs eight birdies with three bogies, for 66. He makes a bogey at the penultimate hole, a lost shot that ultimately drops him to the silver medal step of the podium, but Tommy Fleetwood wins England’s second Olympic medal in men’s golf, despite not winning the tournament.
Tommy Fleetwood sets up birdie to reach 15-under and one back. ???
? Golf Channel and Peaco*ck | #ParisOlympics pic.twitter.com/GpjEZRhdEC
— Golf Channel (@GolfChannel) August 4, 2024
Visualize this scenario: a golfer wins the second and fourth major championships of the season and is the defending gold medalist, coming into Paris 2024. He leads after two rounds and is tied for the lead after the third. In the hunt through twelve holes, Xander Schauffele closes with two bogies and a double and drops to a tie for 9th place.
Flashback to Xander Schauffele’s hot start at the 2020 @RyderCup! ? pic.twitter.com/f0tHYUq0Lj
— Ryder Cup USA (@RyderCupUSA) August 3, 2024
Ponder this scenario: a one-time Masters champion, who agonizingly lost a playoff for the 2021 bronze medal in his home country of Japan, bursts to the lead on day one of Paris 2024. He remains within two shots of the lead after 36 holes, but barely manages par on Saturday, to seemingly drift away. On Sunday, Hideki Matsuyama finds six birdies and six pars over the first two-thirds of the round, then grinds out six more pars for 65 and slides past home-country hero Victor Perez by one shot, for the bronze medal.
Hideki Matsuyama sinks it for birdie to join Tommy Fleetwood at T-3. ???
? Golf Channel and Peaco*ck | #ParisOlympics pic.twitter.com/YOTcwZy4ER
— Golf Channel (@GolfChannel) August 4, 2024
Consider this scenario: a golfer is having a career season, with a major in his pocket, along with three other victories, on the PGA Tour, when he arrives at the PGA Championship in May. Not only does he miss his pre-round stretch and warm-up on Friday; he spends it in a jail cell. After not winning at Valhalla, Scottie Scheffler wins twice more on the PGA Tour, but never really finds his French form until Sunday, when he ignites for nine birdies, including four of the final five holes, for 62 and a gold medal.
Scottie Scheffler with three birdies in his last four holes to move T-3 and ONE BACK of gold position. ???
? Golf Channel and Peaco*ck | #ParisOlympics pic.twitter.com/VfddUJMF1X
— Golf Channel (@GolfChannel) August 4, 2024
Study this scenario: Each of the above statements is true and in accordance with the results of the 2024 playing of the Paris Olympic Games men’s golf tournament. Le Golf National bears no resemblance to a classic links layout, but it proved itself to be precisely the sort of venue that arouses genuine support for golf and its competitors. On Sunday, some professional wizards proved themselves to be human, after all. Others found the magic required to stay the course, navigate the course, and conquer themselves and the course. The men have set an extraordinary bar for the women this week. If we are fortunate to see the same level of expertise and emotion on display, we will be so much the better for it. Congratulations to Scottie, Tommy, and Hideki, and to all the competitors this week.
Profound emotions for Scottie Scheffler hearing the Star-Spangled Banner after winning Olympic gold. ???
? Golf Channel and Peaco*ck | #ParisOlympics pic.twitter.com/kgsOVOBZjD
— Golf Channel (@GolfChannel) August 4, 2024
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