Olympic Games
Tokyo
Schauffele Strikes Olympic Gold in Tokyo
America’s Xander Schauffele held off a jam-packed leaderboard to collect the Gold Medal at the Olympic Games Tokyo in Golf—Men’s Individual Stroke Play. The talented Californian struck gold after he held his medal to produce a clutch par at the 72nd hole where he recovered to make a stunning up and down from 90 meters short of the green.
Winning at The Olympics, particularly in Tokyo, was incredibly special for Schauffele and his family. The 27-year-old’s mother was raised in Japan. His grandparents still live on the Pacific Ocean Island country. And, his father Stefan is his golf swing coach. Stefan once dreamt himself of competing at The Olympics in the Decathlon before a car accident ended his goal at the age of 20.
During an exciting final day at Kasumigaseki Country Club, Saitama, Schauffele staved off Silver Medalist Slovakia’s Rory Sabbatini by one shot.
CT Pan from Chinese Tapei earned the Bronze Medal at the fourth extra hole. Pan was one of seven players from seven different countries who finished two shots further back in a share of third place. Pan was joined in the seven-man playoff for the Bronze with Collin Morikawa (USA), Mito Pereira (Chile), Sebastian Munoz (Colombia), Rory McIlroy (Ireland), Paul Casey (Great Britain) and Hideki Matsuyama (Japan).
Australia’s Cameron Smith narrowly finished one shot out of the playoff for the Bronze Medal after making a bogey at the final hole. The 27-year-old from Brisbane gave a strong showing over the final two rounds carding back-to-back 5-under 66s to get him to 14-under getting him into a share of 10th place. Marc Leishman was the other Aussie in the field. The Victorian struggled from the opening round and finished at 2-under for the event and in a tie for 51st place.
Schauffele prevailed in the 60-man field, which included golfers from 35 nations. The world No. 5 surged to the 36-hole lead after firing an Olympic record equallying 8-under 63 on Day Two that included three consecutive birdies to close out his remarkable round. The four-time PGA Tour winner followed up his low round on Friday with a 3-under 68 on Saturday to retain the lead after the third round.
Schauffele took a one-shot lead into the final round over home town favourite Matsuyama and started boldly with birdies at the opening two holes. After three holes into Sunday, he held a three-shot lead over a large pack of players searching for the precise Gold Medal. For the first thirteen holes, his lead fluctuated between two and three shots. With Schauffele playing a mix of brilliant and steady golf, It seemed the hunters were playing for Silver and Bronze.
Enter into the scene Sabbatini—the world No. 204 dug deep to stake his claim for the highest podium finish. The 45-year-old was born in Durban, South Africa, but now represents Slovakia after changing his citizenship to the country of his wife and stepson. Sabbatini smashed the Olympic record with a scintillating 10-under 61 that included 10 birdies, one eagle and two bogeys. The veteran, who hasn’t won a PGA Tour title since 2011, posted 17-under for the tournament to hold the clubhouse lead. Sabbatini closed out his tournament by making a birdie at the 72nd hole that got him within one shot of Schauffele, who had played 13 holes.
It was game on!
Within minutes of Sabbatini securing his first-pumping and record-producing birdie on the 18th green, Schauffele sprayed his tee shot at the 14th hole wayward right and into the trees. He required a penalty drop for an unplayable lie and racked up a bogey to fall back to 17-under and in a tie with Sabbatini. Unshaken from the lapse, Schauffele steadied with back-to-back pars before reclaiming the lead with a birdie at the 17th hole. His par at the final hole wasn’t conventional, but in the wash up, it doesn’t matter, he settled on 18-under and got the job done! A Gold Medal is a striking achievement after all.
Pan claimed the Bronze Medal with a par at the fourth extra hole. The 29-year reached the playoff for third pace after carding a superb final round 8-under 63. Pan outlasted two-time major champion Morikawa, who also signed for a final round 8-under 63. Earlier in the playoff, Casey (68) and Matsuyama (69) bowed out at the first extra hole with bogeys. Munoz (67), Pereira (67) and McIlroy (67) were eliminated at the third playoff hole.
Attention now turns to Wednesday August 4 with the first round of Golf—Women’s Individual Stroke Play. Australia will be represented by Minjee Lee and Hannah Green. Lee, aged 25, enters the event with hot form after winning her maiden major title at the Evian Championship last week. Green, aged 24, collected her first major title at the 2019 KPMG Women's PGA Championship.
Final Scores
Olympic Games Tokyo...Men
GOLD. Xander Schauffele (USA) -18
SILVER. Rory Sabbatini (SVK) -17
BRONZE. CT Pan (TPE) -15
4. Collin Morikawa (USA) -15
5. Mito Pereira (CHL) -15
6. Rory McIlroy (IRL) -15
7. Sebastian Munoz (COL) -15
8. Paul Casey (GBR) -15
9. Hideki Matsuyama (JPN) -15
Australians
T10. Cameron Smith -14
T51. Marc Leishman -2
Photo credit: Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images
