Xander Schauffele holds a share of the lead alongside Spain’s Jon Rahm ahead of the final round of the Olympic men’s golf competition as he looks to win back-to-back gold medals.
The American arrived at his second appearance at the Games on the back of winning The Open Championship two weeks ago and has continued his excellent form at Le Golf National.
Schauffele was part of a three-way share of the halfway lead at 11-under, but he shot a 3-under 68 that was highlighted by an eagle at the par-5 14th to outperform playing partners Tommy Fleetwood and Hideki Matsuyama on Saturday.
Rahm, playing in the group ahead, produced his second consecutive round of 66 that included a seventh birdie of the day at the 17th to also reach 14-under.
Fleetwood of Great Britain will join the major-winning duo in the final group on Sunday after he mixed three birdies with two bogeys to sit one stroke off the leaders.
Nicolai Højgaard enjoyed the round of the week so far as he matched the course record of 62 with a bogey-free total that featured an eagle and seven birdies.
That moved the Dane into a share of fourth on the leaderboard alongside Japan’s Matsuyama, who lost ground in his pursuit of an Olympic medal with a level-par 71.
World Nos. 1 and 3 Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy, respectively, are both poised to make a Sunday run as they played their way into contention after contrasting rounds.
While Scheffler mixed six birdies and two bogeys in a round that fluctuated, McIlroy enjoyed his first flawless score of the week as he made five birdies for a 66.
Thomas Detry of Belgium and Korea’s Tom Kim also sit at 10-under – four back – after they carded a pair of 69s. Sweden’s Ludvig Åberg, Australia’s Jason Day and Chile’s Joaquin Niemann round out the top 10 a shot further back.
Other Player Notes and Quotes
• Seven of the top 15 athletes in the Official World Golf Ranking are inside the top 10 on the leaderboard through three rounds: Jon Rahm (T1/No. 10), Xander Schauffele (T1/No. 2), Tommy Fleetwood (3rd/No. 14), Hideki Matsuyama (T4/No. 12), Rory McIlroy (T6/No. 3), Scottie Scheffler (T6/No. 1), Ludvig Åberg (T10/No. 4)
• Four players inside the top 10 of the leaderboard were also positioned inside the top 10 through three rounds at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics (Xander Schauffele/1st/finished 1st, Hideki Matsuyama/2nd/finished T4, Rory McIlroy/T5/finished T4, Tommy Fleetwood/T9/finished T16)
• Medalists with the lowest position through three rounds at the men’s Olympic golf competition: Rory Sabbatini (T17/2020/silver), C.T. Pan (T17/2020/bronze)
• 36-hole co-leader Hideki Matsuyama (T4/-11) leads the field in birdies with 18; would join C.T. Pan as the only athletes from Asia to medal in the men’s Olympic golf competition
• Denmark’s Nicolai Højgaard (T4/-11) posts 62 for the second-lowest 18-hole score in Olympic history (61/Rory Sabbatini/R4/2020) and the lowest third-round score in Olympic history; 23-year-old earned PGA TOUR membership in 2024 via non-member FedExCup points and has one top-10 in 17 starts on the season (2nd/Farmers Insurance Open)
• World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler (T6/-10) seeks to become the first No. 1-ranked player in the Olympic Golf Ranking to medal in the men’s Olympic golf competition
• World No. 3 Rory McIlroy (T6/-10) cards a bogey-free 66 in search of his first medal after falling in a seven-man playoff for the bronze medal at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics
• Team Great Britain's Matt Fitzpatrick, who entered this week with a preexisting right thumb strain, withdrew due to injury following the third round of the men's Olympic golf competition
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