Japan was hoping for Hideki Matsuyama, the United States was betting on Collin Morikawa, it was finally another American, Xander Sc Chaudele, 5th in the world all the same, who won the gold medal in the Olympic golf tournament on Sunday at the Games of Tokyo.
A birdie at N.17 freed ScHotele, leader since the second round but who had been joined at the top of the standings by Rory Sabbatini, author of a spectacular 15-place good, by returning a card of 61 or ten strokes under the par (one eagle, ten birdies, two bogeys). By far the best of the day and even in the history of the Games since the reinstatement of the sport in Rio in 2016.
If the Slovakian can console himself for having come close to the feat with the silver medal, the bronze returned to the no less surprising Taiwanese CT Pan, who emerged victorious from play-off holes which involved six other competitors.
Among them Morikawa and Matsuyama, precisely, the latter having failed to obtain it alone after two birdies missed to N.17 and N.18 yet within his reach, the Irishman Rory McIlroy, the British Paul Casey, the Colombian Sebastian Munoz and the Chilean Mito Pereira.
After taking back control in the money-time, ScHotele started his 18th and last hole badly, drifting off the fairway, in the grass a little taller under the trees. The shady softness certainly did him good – 35 degrees drenched in sweltering humidity were tough conditions to endure on the Kasumigaseki Country Club course – as he recovered perfectly to secure par.
A success, the most prestigious won by the Californian, often in the places of honor in the Grand Slams, which he dedicated to his father, Stefan. A former German athlete, his dream of competing in the Olympics was shattered when a drunk driver crashed into his car. “I wanted to win for him, I’m sure he’s crying somewhere right now. It means more than anything else, ”said ScHotele, who succeeds Britain’s Justin Rose on the Olympic record.
Being part of the favorites a little by default, he nevertheless brilliantly held his place, in a table devoid of many stars, either by inability to compete for what concerns Tiger Woods, convalescing after his car accident in February, or by will. to ignore like Dustin Johnson, or because the Covid prevented their participation, such as Jon Rahm and Bryson DeChambeau. Two French people were in the running. Romain Langasque finished 35th (-7) and Antoine Rozner 45th (-4).
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