Big crowds and big names in Paris add to Games appeal for golf

Paris — Golf’s top male players battling it out in front of boisterous fans packed around the greens at Le Golf National revived Ryder Cup memories for some, but also delivered an Olympic experience long missing from the sport.

Golf returned to the Games in Rio in 2016 after a century-long absence. A closely fought contest in Tokyo put the Olympics more firmly on golf’s calendar, but the Paris competition has offered seasoned stars the buzz of a passionate crowd.

Players also spoke enthusiastically about watching other Olympic events and seeing other athletes take an interest in golf.

US world No 1 Scottie Scheffler won gold on Sunday, pipping Britain’s Tommy Fleetwood in a nail-biting final round.

Fleetwood was feted by fans who cherish his starring role in Europe’s 2018 Ryder Cup win over the US at the same course southwest of Paris, while French pair Victor Perez and Matthieu Pavon were roared on by the home crowd.

Ireland’s Rory McIlroy, who finished tied fifth, savoured the sight of Perez being acclaimed by the crowd on the final hole as the Frenchman fell just short of a medal in fourth.

“We don’t get that any other place that we play, maybe apart from the Ryder Cup,” he told reporters.

“I just thought it was an incredible atmosphere and environment to play in, and I think everyone in the field had a blast.”

While Scheffler shed tears during the medal ceremony, Spain’s Jon Rahm, another two-time Major winner, said representing his country added to the disappointment of letting slip his lead on Sunday.

“To just not get it done for the whole country of Spain, it’s a lot more painful,” he said.

After many stars stayed away from Rio and Tokyo, the Paris edition brought nearly all the top-ranked names to slug it out for medal glory rather than prize money.

“It’s good quality golf and it’s exactly what it should be in the Olympics,” American Xander Schauffele, who won in Tokyo, said after the finish in Paris.

Reuters