Scheffler wins gold at men’s Olympic golf competition

PARIS: U.S. world number one Scottie Scheffler captured the gold medal in the men’s Olympic golf competition on Sunday, delivering a spectacular performance in a thrilling final round. Scheffler matched the course record with a remarkable nine-under-par round of 62 at Le Golf National, concluding the tournament at 19-under-par, narrowly edging out Britain’s crowd favorite, Tommy Fleetwood, who secured the silver medal.

Fleetwood finished just one stroke behind Scheffler after an impressive showing. Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama earned the bronze medal, finishing a further shot back. This marked a redemption for Matsuyama, who narrowly missed out on a medal in a seven-way playoff at the Tokyo Games three years ago.

The victory caps an extraordinary year for the 28-year-old Scheffler, who earlier claimed his second Masters title in April among six tour victories. Known for his typically composed demeanor, Scheffler showcased a rare display of emotion. He celebrated with a fist pump on the 17th hole after sinking a critical birdie to take the lead, and later shed tears on the podium upon receiving his gold medal.

“It’s been a long week, it’s been a challenging week. I played some great golf today and I’m proud to be going home with a medal,” Scheffler told reporters after his triumphant performance.(Reuters)