Lydia Ko – with her Silver Medal in Rio – can she make it three
Lydia Ko is, this week, playing her third Olympic golf competition at Le Golf National, one of 16 players in this week’s event to have played all three Olympics since the sport’s return to the Olympic family in 2016.
Ko claimed the Silver medal in Rio and the Bronze in Tokyo and in what might be potentially her last time representing New Zealand in this competition she is keen to complete the medal collection with a Gold.
“If I can leave Paris with another medal, that will be very special to me because you just never know what’s going to happen in the future,” said Ko in Monday’s Media Conference. “I don’t know if this is, like, maybe potentially my last opportunity to medal, like, just because I don’t know what’s ahead. I really want to enjoy it and give myself a good run at it.
“I’m, obviously, super excited to represent New Zealand again for my third Olympics. You know, the Olympics come around every four years, Tokyo being kind of the exception. But yeah, it’s amazing that this is going to be my third.
“Time has gone by quick. To have been able to medal in the past two Games, I feel very fortunate about that and excited to give it a good run again this week.”
In Rio, Ko shot a 2-under 69 in the final round to earn a medal for New Zealand to finish at 11-under par, five shots back of gold medalist Inbee Park (-16). In 2020, Ko and eventual silver medalist Mone Inami shot 65s to tie at 16-under overall.
Ko won her 20th LPGA Tour victory this past January since her first in 2012 as an amateur. She is now one point away from the necessary 27 needed towards LPGA Hall of Fame induction, and has the ability to earn one Hall of Fame point with a gold medal.
When asked her thoughts on Le Golf National Ko responded;
“I think it’s going to be the toughest Olympics as of yet. Rio and Tokyo had a very different feeling. This is a very different golf course to that as well. When I saw the men play and the scores that they were shooting I was very impressed because that wasn’t the initial kind of scores that I was expecting.
“But you know, it is tricky and I think a lot of the players were saying last week that the first couple — if you could get through the first couple holes and finish well the last few holes, the middle you can play with and that’s what I’ve seen out there. Even though it is tricky, it’s the same playing field for everyone.
“So I’m just going to hopefully play strategically but at the same time aggressively because all of us that are competing in a tournament, and it’s a slightly different mindset to our usual event on tour.”
Ko was asked as to her thoughts on the two medals she has won to date
“I think I’m proud of both. Very different circumstances. Being in that playoff for either the Silver or the Bronze in Tokyo, and if I go down this road of what I could have done better or should have done better, it’s kind of like an endless cat-and-mouse situation there.
“I would say both the Silver and Bronze would be up there alongside some of my other wins. We were saying, I think Yuka was saying as well, most of the time, we’re playing, everyone only remembers who won that week. Nobody really remembers someone came second or third.
“That’s the great thing about the Olympics is you’re a Gold Medallist, Silver Medalist and Bronze Medalist, and you’re not, like, second behind so-and-so and third behind someone. It celebrates each and every Olympian here, and I think for all 120 of us over the past couple weeks that have qualified to be here, I think it’s a huge win.”
Ko’s medals have been in the hands of others since she was presented with them and it is quite an emotional story.
“I’m pretty sure the Tokyo medal is somewhere in my sister’s apartment, and the Rio Silver is in my dad’s closet. So they are in very treasured places, just not with me. I’m not very careful to start off with, any ways, so I trust them, more than my memory.
“Tokyo, because of circumstances, I was only there with my sister and my performance manager and my grandmother had unfortunately passed the day I was leaving for Tokyo, and I asked my sister who was going to Korea from Japan to take it back and show it to my parents and also hopefully take it to grandma’s grave. That was kind of the meaning on why it went to her place.
“My dad normally likes to keep stuff. So I find a lot of cool things in there when I hope it from whiskey bottles to memorabilia. That’s why he kept the Rio one.
“If I win the Gold, I’m definitely taking all of them back and I’m going to find a way to kind of present all three.
“Yeah, but I don’t really have, like, a good place to store it right now. Like, my trophy room in Orlando also has a golf net and, like, my workout stuff. Because it used to be a trophy room but then COVID made me use it into, like, a home gym. It’s very crowded in there and getting musty in there. I think if I do win the Gold, I might actually have to maybe get a new home or get a proper thing to kind of, like, honour it.
“But it’s a long way from now but it’s definitely a good dream and something that I can think of.”
Having medalled at the two previous Olympics Ko is perhaps one who could cast an interesting perspective of where she thinks the Olympics stand in the overall scheme of things.
“I think it’s obviously grown a lot and with anything, I think there always is going to be that time period where it kind of gets incorporated smoothly. I think it’s quite hard because both in Rio and Tokyo we had external factors that were affecting maybe players’ choice in attending the Games even though they qualified.
“I feel like this is the first one back and it’s been, like, boom, this past week, and I think that’s great. I know there has been potential talks about team format for maybe L.A. or Brisbane, and I think everybody involved, they are trying to get a good idea of what’s the best way to do this and what’s the best way to dial down these three medalists. To see that has been awesome.
“When I was in my teens, it was my goal to represent New Zealand at the Olympics, and I’m sure there are many other junior golfers that either watched yesterday’s round from all over the world that are going to get inspiration off them competing in the Olympics themselves in five or ten years’ time.
“When I first started golf, I didn’t think I would be able to say I’m an Olympian. I thought that’s something that I turn on the TV during the Olympic Games and I see, like, Usain Bolt or a Simone Biles and go, wow, they are Olympians, but I’m just a golfer.
“But now I can say I’m an Olympian just like them, and that’s something I’m very proud of. I know for a fact that many junior golfers are going to dream and work towards them representing their countries at the Olympics in the future Games.”
After a great start to 2024 when Ko won the Tournament of Champions and finished runner-up in her next event, she has slipped down the rankings and now stands outside the top 20 after starting the year inside the top ten.
Given her lack of recent form, she has a tough task to add to her medal tally in which only she and Nelly Korda in this week’s field have medalled in previous events.
Lydia Ko moves into medal contention in Paris
Lydia Ko hits her tee shot at the 17th today – image PGA Tour / IGF
New Zealand’s Lydia Ko has increased her chances of adding a Gold Medal to the Silver and Bronze Olympic Medals she already has in her possession with a second round of 67 at Le Golf National and as the event heads into round three she is just three from the lead held by Switzerland’s Morgane Metraux.
A bogey at the last after laying up and then pitching long into the back bunker at the par 5 was perhaps a disappointing way to finish what had been an impressive move up the leaderboard but she is nicely placed to moved into contention for Gold over the final 36 holes.
Ko was asked to compare today’s round with her opening day 72.
“You know what, I actually played really well yesterday. I think the pin positions were a little bit more difficult yesterday, and honestly, going through some of the pins in the morning, I was a little stressed. But when I saw Celine shoot that 7-under, I thought she was playing a different golf course than me. But in ways it gave me hope that I, too, could maybe shoot a score like that.
“Today, I played really solid and really put myself in that many awkward positions, and I think being consistent is really important around here, especially off the tee. A little bit of a sloppy finish, I would say, but other than that, if I don’t think that I bogeyed the 18th hole and I said, oh, well, I bogeyed it on 8 or something, I would have probably been even happier. So it’s like putting into perspective.
“But obviously nice to have a good round under my belt and be if a good position for the next two days.”
“Honestly this golf course is so hard, it’s hard to think about the other things because I’m just trying to shoot the best score I can around here.
“I said earlier in the week, I think this is the toughest golf course we’ve played in the past three Games, and all of them had very different characteristics. But this one, you could shoot a really low score if you’re on but at the same time it can get away from you, as well.
“I think there’s so many things I need to focus, like right in front of me, which has been good. Because then that has been lesson my mind. It’s really cool that if I did win the Gold, I could get in the Hall of Fame, and it would stop all these questions, like from you in the future.
“I feel like if it’s going to happen, whether it’s in Paris or in Florida or in Scotland, it’s going to happen. And I’m just excited that I have this opportunity.
“If I get to do it here, it would be a pretty cool way to get it done. But I’m playing alongside 59 other of the top qualified players here, and there’s 36 holes for me to go.”
As Ko was suggesting a win this week would see her enter the LPGA Hall of Fame for which she needs just one more win. Her last win was at the opening event of this season at the Tournament of Champions.
Australia’s Minjee Lee made a horror start with a bogey at the 1st and a double at the second when she found the water at the par 3 and finished with a round of 74 to have her in a share of 22nd and now nine shots from the lead.
Hannah Green improved on her opening 77 with a round of 70 to be tied for 29th.
The leader Metraux produced an almost unbelievable opening nine of 28 but cooled over the closing nine which she played in 38 for her round of 66 but she has a one-shot lead over China’s Ruoning Yin.
Metraux is currently raked # 137 in the Rolex World Rankings so these are giddy heights for her but playing so close to her home country has clearly inspired her to a brilliant start.
Leaderboard
Justice Bosio into match play at US Women’s Amateur
The prestigious US Women’s Amateur trophy – image USGA
Queensland’s Justice Bosio, the only Australian in the field at the US Women’s Amateur in Tulsa Oklahoma, has made it into the top 64 to advance to the match play phase.
Bosio, from Caboolture on the Sunshine Coast, recovered from an opening round of 77 on the demanding Southern Hills Country Club’s layout to record a second round of 70 and finish 26th in the standings.
Bosio’s opening round of 77 was ruined by dropping seven shots in six holes around the turn but she has recovered well.
Bosio will now take on the Daozeng Liu of China who finished 37th in the 36 hole stroke-play qualifier.
SCORING
Australian Karl Vilips makes immediate impact in professional golf
Karl Vilips with his Southern Amateur trophy earlier in his career – file photo
The victory by US-based Perth golfer, Karl Vilips in last week’s Korn Ferry Tour event in Utah could well spell the start of a significant professional career for yet another Australian golfer.
With the victory, Vilips, who was born in Indonesia before being raised in Perth through the formative stages of his life, moves to 15th in the Korn Ferry Tour standings and with the top 30 at season’s end securing status for the PGA Tour in 2025, he is well on his way to almost immediate graduation to golf’s highest level
Vilips who attended Stanford University during a collegiate career, earned the right to play the Korn Ferry Tour via the PGA Tour University Ranking system and took full advantage by finishing 13th, 15th, 2nd and now 1st in his four starts in the last month.
With only six more events on this year’s Korn Ferry Tour schedule it is all but a lock for Vilips to be playing in the big league next season.
Vilips has already had a stellar amateur career highlighted by winning World Golf Junior Championships at the ages of 7, 9, 10 and 12 and was a Gold Medal winner at the 2018 Boy’s Olympics in addition to joining the great Bobby Jones as the youngest ever winner of the Southern Amateur.
Vilips also played in the 2019 Junior Presidents Cup side.
Vilips is still coming to terms with his immediate success.
“I mean, it’s just kind of what you dream of when you qualify in. Four weeks ago you step in, you try to keep playing and in your wildest dreams you imagine winning and shooting up the rankings. Suddenly a lot of stress is relieved and I’m just so happy to see today that all of that is now kind of solved.”
Vilips made mention of the assistance he has had from coach Colin Swanton, who guided Jason Day through much of his success on the PGA Tour as both a coach and caddie.
“Really, my coach, Colin Swanton, and my mental coach, Rick Sessinghaus, have just played a huge role in being able to close out tournaments like this because that’s something I struggled with in the past historically.”
Hannah Green a medal prospect in Paris
Hannah Green – during practice this week – image PGA Tour / IGF
Perth’s Hannah Green enters tomorrow’s opening round of the Women’s Olympic competition as Australasia’s highest world-ranked golfer (6th) following a year that has seen her win two LPGA Tour titles and sit in 3rd place in the Race to the Globe standings, she will start her second Olympic campaign as one of the favourites for a medal.
Green heads Minjee Lee (13th) and Lydia Ko (21st) in world ranking, passing both during the course of this season and while her form of late has not been quite as hot as it was earlier in the season, she stands out as a genuine prospect for Australia’s first ever Olympic medal.
Today Green, along with Lee, faced the media as she discussed the week ahead and just how she feels about representing Australia for the second occasion.
“It’s different this time because I guess I’ve only been to Tokyo. So obviously COVID time was a little bit different. We didn’t get to the Village when we were there in 2020, so Minjee and I got to experience that on Saturday here.
“It’s nice to see the men and how big the crowds were and obviously the atmosphere with Le Golf National kind of already has a really nice — with how the golf course is set for everyone to come and watch. I’m excited to see the crowds.
“As soon as I left Tokyo, I wanted to make sure that I was on the Olympic team, even three years out, obviously it doesn’t matter the rankings.
“But I wanted to make sure I was playing consistently and playing well in the lead up. Tokyo just had such a different atmosphere because of Covid restrictions, having those few spectators and having the whole Aussie team being my only little cheer squad, but it’s going to be very different here in France.”
The Australian captain this week, Karrie Webb, has played a part in the lives of both Green and Lee and Green highlighted that point.
“In my opinion, she’s the greatest golfer to come out of Australia. So to have her scholarship opportunity, also. Both of us have been recipients of that and so we have been able to go to the U.S. Open with her and shadow her the entire week. That was at Lancaster when we last played and this year was actually able to be inside the ropes when we played the U.S. Open.
“But that was a week where I kind of was like, I need to work a lot harder if I want to do this for a living. Perhaps if I did not have that opportunity, I may not have had the achievements. I may have still been a professional golfer but maybe not worked as hard or felt as motivated in that sense. Yeah, it’s really cool to have Webby as captain this week.”
When asked why the Olympics have typically produced a high-quality winner, perhaps even more so than a regular major Green would say;
“Because you’re playing for a Gold Medal, that’s more rare, and that probably gets more on your nerves than perhaps winning a major. Don’t get me wrong, you’re going to be nervous trying to win a major championship. Because it’s obviously one in four years might add more pressure, but perhaps for those who have experience winning major championships, it might be just a little bit easier for them. I’m not sure.”
There has been much conjecture as to whether golf actually deserves a place in the Olympics and how the current format might be tweaked to have a greater impact and Green has thoughts on that issue.
“I do think that’s where it would be cool to do some sort of team event, just say I’m coming dead last, my score counts towards Minjee’s, not only to win a Gold but to have some sort of team environment would be cool between the players. Obviously that’s difficult because not every country is represented by two people.
“But I think if they perhaps did that with the men, a mixed event and scores counted that way. There are many opportunities and so many ways they can go about it. But obviously trying to fit that within our schedules on both the PGA TOUR and LPGA and LET and everybody’s schedule would be difficult.”
Green finished tied for 5th in Tokyo but given her current form and increased experience she may well even better what was an excellent Olympic debut.
Tee Times and Leaderboard
Lydia Ko Chasing trio of Olympic Medals
Lydia Ko – with her Silver Medal in Rio – can she make it three
Lydia Ko is, this week, playing her third Olympic golf competition at Le Golf National, one of 16 players in this week’s event to have played all three Olympics since the sport’s return to the Olympic family in 2016.
Ko claimed the Silver medal in Rio and the Bronze in Tokyo and in what might be potentially her last time representing New Zealand in this competition she is keen to complete the medal collection with a Gold.
“If I can leave Paris with another medal, that will be very special to me because you just never know what’s going to happen in the future,” said Ko in Monday’s Media Conference. “I don’t know if this is, like, maybe potentially my last opportunity to medal, like, just because I don’t know what’s ahead. I really want to enjoy it and give myself a good run at it.
“I’m, obviously, super excited to represent New Zealand again for my third Olympics. You know, the Olympics come around every four years, Tokyo being kind of the exception. But yeah, it’s amazing that this is going to be my third.
“Time has gone by quick. To have been able to medal in the past two Games, I feel very fortunate about that and excited to give it a good run again this week.”
In Rio, Ko shot a 2-under 69 in the final round to earn a medal for New Zealand to finish at 11-under par, five shots back of gold medalist Inbee Park (-16). In 2020, Ko and eventual silver medalist Mone Inami shot 65s to tie at 16-under overall.
Ko won her 20th LPGA Tour victory this past January since her first in 2012 as an amateur. She is now one point away from the necessary 27 needed towards LPGA Hall of Fame induction, and has the ability to earn one Hall of Fame point with a gold medal.
When asked her thoughts on Le Golf National Ko responded;
“I think it’s going to be the toughest Olympics as of yet. Rio and Tokyo had a very different feeling. This is a very different golf course to that as well. When I saw the men play and the scores that they were shooting I was very impressed because that wasn’t the initial kind of scores that I was expecting.
“But you know, it is tricky and I think a lot of the players were saying last week that the first couple — if you could get through the first couple holes and finish well the last few holes, the middle you can play with and that’s what I’ve seen out there. Even though it is tricky, it’s the same playing field for everyone.
“So I’m just going to hopefully play strategically but at the same time aggressively because all of us that are competing in a tournament, and it’s a slightly different mindset to our usual event on tour.”
Ko was asked as to her thoughts on the two medals she has won to date
“I think I’m proud of both. Very different circumstances. Being in that playoff for either the Silver or the Bronze in Tokyo, and if I go down this road of what I could have done better or should have done better, it’s kind of like an endless cat-and-mouse situation there.
“I would say both the Silver and Bronze would be up there alongside some of my other wins. We were saying, I think Yuka was saying as well, most of the time, we’re playing, everyone only remembers who won that week. Nobody really remembers someone came second or third.
“That’s the great thing about the Olympics is you’re a Gold Medallist, Silver Medalist and Bronze Medalist, and you’re not, like, second behind so-and-so and third behind someone. It celebrates each and every Olympian here, and I think for all 120 of us over the past couple weeks that have qualified to be here, I think it’s a huge win.”
Ko’s medals have been in the hands of others since she was presented with them and it is quite an emotional story.
“I’m pretty sure the Tokyo medal is somewhere in my sister’s apartment, and the Rio Silver is in my dad’s closet. So they are in very treasured places, just not with me. I’m not very careful to start off with, any ways, so I trust them, more than my memory.
“Tokyo, because of circumstances, I was only there with my sister and my performance manager and my grandmother had unfortunately passed the day I was leaving for Tokyo, and I asked my sister who was going to Korea from Japan to take it back and show it to my parents and also hopefully take it to grandma’s grave. That was kind of the meaning on why it went to her place.
“My dad normally likes to keep stuff. So I find a lot of cool things in there when I hope it from whiskey bottles to memorabilia. That’s why he kept the Rio one.
“If I win the Gold, I’m definitely taking all of them back and I’m going to find a way to kind of present all three.
“Yeah, but I don’t really have, like, a good place to store it right now. Like, my trophy room in Orlando also has a golf net and, like, my workout stuff. Because it used to be a trophy room but then COVID made me use it into, like, a home gym. It’s very crowded in there and getting musty in there. I think if I do win the Gold, I might actually have to maybe get a new home or get a proper thing to kind of, like, honour it.
“But it’s a long way from now but it’s definitely a good dream and something that I can think of.”
Having medalled at the two previous Olympics Ko is perhaps one who could cast an interesting perspective of where she thinks the Olympics stand in the overall scheme of things.
“I think it’s obviously grown a lot and with anything, I think there always is going to be that time period where it kind of gets incorporated smoothly. I think it’s quite hard because both in Rio and Tokyo we had external factors that were affecting maybe players’ choice in attending the Games even though they qualified.
“I feel like this is the first one back and it’s been, like, boom, this past week, and I think that’s great. I know there has been potential talks about team format for maybe L.A. or Brisbane, and I think everybody involved, they are trying to get a good idea of what’s the best way to do this and what’s the best way to dial down these three medalists. To see that has been awesome.
“When I was in my teens, it was my goal to represent New Zealand at the Olympics, and I’m sure there are many other junior golfers that either watched yesterday’s round from all over the world that are going to get inspiration off them competing in the Olympics themselves in five or ten years’ time.
“When I first started golf, I didn’t think I would be able to say I’m an Olympian. I thought that’s something that I turn on the TV during the Olympic Games and I see, like, Usain Bolt or a Simone Biles and go, wow, they are Olympians, but I’m just a golfer.
“But now I can say I’m an Olympian just like them, and that’s something I’m very proud of. I know for a fact that many junior golfers are going to dream and work towards them representing their countries at the Olympics in the future Games.”
After a great start to 2024 when Ko won the Tournament of Champions and finished runner-up in her next event, she has slipped down the rankings and now stands outside the top 20 after starting the year inside the top ten.
Given her lack of recent form, she has a tough task to add to her medal tally in which only she and Nelly Korda in this week’s field have medalled in previous events.
Lee, Ko and Green Australasian reps at Women’s Olympics
Minjee Lee – in action at Tokyo Olympics – image IGF
With the Men’s Olympic competition now done and dusted, attention turns to this week’s 72 hole event for the women where Nelly Korda will defend the title she won in Tokyo.
Like the men’s winner Scottie Scheffler, Korda has been the hottest female golfer on the planet this year with six victories on the LPGA Tour and although her form has dropped away in recent weeks she will start the favourite.
Australasia has three representatives, Minjee Lee, Hannah Green and New Zealand’s Lydia Ko, New Zealand unable to field a second representative due to Fiona Xu, their second-highest-ranked player, not being included by New Zealand Golf.
For Lee, this will be her third appearance at the Olympics having finished 7th in Rio and 29th in Tokyo.
Ko has a runner-up finish in Rio and a 3rd place in Tokyo and will look to complete her medal collection in what may well be her last Olympics.
Green is playing at her second Olympic Games, having finished tied for 5th in Tokyo but given her form in 2024 she might well be considered the best chance of the three.
Lydia Ko during her Silver Medal performance in Rio – image IGF
Tee Times
Scheffler adds another title to his list in Paris
Fleetwood (Silver) Scheffler (Gold) and Matsuyama (Bronze) – image PGA Tour / IGF
It was going to take something very special from the world’s undisputed number one golfer Scottie Scheffler if he was going to chase down the leaders heading into the final round of the Men’s Olympic competition in France, and he produced just that.
A final round of 62 which included a final nine of 29 resulted in a stunning one-shot victory over Tommy Fleetwood whose bogey at the 17th cost him the chance of the Gold Medal, while Hideki Matsuyama recorded a final round of 65 to claim the Bronze Medal .
Scheffler added this title to his six PGA Tour victories in 2024 (including the Masters and Players Championship titles) and he stands, clearly, at the top of the men’s game.
Needing a fast start after starting the final round four behind both Jon Rahm and Xander Schauffele, Scheffler birdied his opening three holes but he was still three behind at the turn before unleashing his powerful finish.
When asked as to how this win might affect his legacy Scheffler replied; “Yeah, I mean, I don’t really think too much about my legacy as a golfer. That’s not really something that comes to mind. I love being out here competing. It’s one of my favourite things in the world to do and it’s a great joy in my life. I’m proud to be out here competing.
“As far as my legacy goes, I really don’t think about it too much. This is just part of my life that I do out here and it’s something that I work very hard at. I’m proud to be sitting here with a Gold Medal.
“I would say first and foremost I’m proud of the country I’m from. I’m proud to be American. I got emotional the other night watching the Gold Medal ceremony for the women’s gymnastics. I take tremendous pride in coming over here and representing my country.
“And yeah, same thing, like when you go to a sporting event, you hear everybody in the stands singing the National Anthem, it’s a pretty special thing to be a part of, and I think that’s something we take tremendous pride in.
“It was just very emotional being up there on stage there as the flag is being raised and sitting there singing the National Anthem. Yes, that’s definitely one I’ll remember for a long time.”
Scheffler has now finished either first or second on 13 occasions in the last eighteen months.
The surprise of the final round was that neither of the 54-hole leaders, Rahm or Schauffele, could match those chasing, Rahm finishing 5th and defending champion Schauffele 9th.
Jason Day headed the Australasian challenge when he finished with a round of 68 to share 9th place after starting with two early birdies himself but it was a week he will never forget.
“It was very impressive this week. It was fascinating and kind of I was in awe the first few days and even today, especially playing right behind Victor (Frenchman Victor Perez). I would have been absolutely nervous if I was him to be honest.
“He fed off the crowd and he played wonderful golf and I think that will be probably one of the best memories that he’ll ever have in golf, especially playing at home, in front of the home crowd.
“Like I said before, other than Viktor, I have no idea what they were saying and they were supporting him very, very hard and it was impressive to watch.
“I said earlier in the week, it’s amazing what sport can do to bring people together. This is a week that we are not playing for money. We are playing for a medal and your country. You’re weighing it on your chest and it’s brought out old feelings that I thought I didn’t have and I still have deep down and why we play golf and why we love it so much.”
Min Woo Lee added another round of 68 to finish in a share of 22nd place which after his struggles in round one completed a solid comeback.
Ryan Fox finished 35th and Daniel Hillier 55th.
SCORES
Jason Day – tees off the first in the final round – image PGA Tour/ IGF
Disappointing finish costly for Jason Day in Paris
At one stage during round three of the Olympic Golf’s men’s competition, Australia’s Jason Day had moved into second position and just two shots off the then leader Tommy Fleetwood but a bogey at the par 5 14th and another at the 17th will have him heading into tomorrow’s final round in 10th place and five shots behind the joint 54 hole leaders, Jon Rahm and Xander Schauffele.
Day began the day six shots from the lead of Rahm, Schauffele Fleetwood but with six birdies in his opening twelve holes, he had closed in on the lead before his disappointing finish.
Given the quality of players ahead of him on the leaderboard, Day’s chances of claiming the Gold Medal would appear to be slim. Still, if he is to put together a strong finishing round, the chance of a medal of some colour is still possible.
“It’s a little frustrating,” said Day. “I can’t seem to get the ball in the fairway with the driver as much as I’d like to. I’ve been driving the ball pretty well up until the second part of the season, and it’s just been a little off.
“Funny enough, my iron play has been shocking this year and my iron play has been pretty good this week and I’ve matched that with some good putting.
“To be honest, I just need to play the closing holes a lot better than I have. You play those a little bit better and you’re right in the mix but still one more day to go.
When asked if playing the Olympics has taken on a greater meaning than he first imagined Day would say;
“Yes, by far, a lot more. Not only playing for your country and your teammates. The crowd has made it fantastic to be a part of it. Definitely feel honoured to be able to come here and represent my country. It’s been a fun week. The dinners, team dinners have been tremendous and we had a lot of fun.
“I was saying earlier that typically we are always constantly trying to win tournaments on the PGA TOUR. We look at the Money List and we look at what money we’d make. You don’t earn anything this week. You’re earning a medal, and I think that brings out something deep from whether it’s when you’re a junior golfer or amateur golfer that it means something more than just some money at the end of the day for us.
“It’s definitely opened my eyes to representing something bigger than myself. That’s been a complete honour to do that.
“Ever since I was an 18-year-old kid, I didn’t have a lot of money; it’s always been about winning tournaments and making a lot of money. This week is not about that. It’s more. It’s about trying to prove if you’re good enough to win a medal. There’s only a small list of people that have won a medal here, especially in golf.”
Ryan Fox improved 9 places with a third round of 68 to be tied for 23rd and the next best of the Australasians, Min Woo Lee continued his comeback from a horror start to be 29th and Daniel Hillier had his best round of the week (70) to be 53rd.
With Rahm and Schauffele tied at 14 under, Fleetwood at 13 under, and the likes of McIlroy, Scheffler and Matsuyama all within striking distance tomorrow’s final round in the race for Gold will be quite a shootout.
LEADERBOARD
Jason Day improves through 36 holes in Paris
Hideki Matsuyama – one of three leaders at the halfway stage – image PGA Tour IGF
Jason Day added a second round of 3 under 68 at the Olympic Men’s competition at Le Golf National in Paris and at 5 under par through 36 holes he shares 13th place, six shots behind joint leaders Hideki Matsuyama, Tommy Fleetwood and defending champion Xander Schauffele.
Day’s only real blemish of the day came when he found the water at the par 3 16th but was able to salvage a bogey from the drop zone although his four birdies have opened the door for a strong weekend to have him in contention for a medal.
“It was much more focused. Actual left-to-right, I played nice today,” said Day. “The only downside to the game today is I missed one green and that was when I missed the green on 16. Hit it in the water.
“But I think overall, it would have been nice to be able to capitalise on the par 5s a little bit more. There’s only three of them, so just poor drives on 9 and 14. And if I can get that on the fairway, then at least give myself an opportunity to get up near the green, try and work a little bit there. But yeah, other than that, it was nice work today. I just have to push a little bit over the weekend.”
When asked if this week carries a different mindset given there are just three medals up for grabs Day responded;
“It really does. Because you’re trying to push, you know what I mean. You want to pick up a medal. I’m currently six back so we have some work to do over the weekend.”
Min Woo Lee bounced back from an opening round of 76 to record an eight birdie round of 65 to jump 24 places and into a share of 35th.
“Yeah, it was great,” said Lee. “Played really good. But yeah just got off to a really good start and that definitely helps. Especially at a course like this, if you start average, then it’s pretty hard to come back. So yeah, just didn’t give up, really. And that was kind of the motto after yesterday. Yesterday was tough but tough days of golf happen. Pat on the back for not giving up and playing good golf.”
New Zealand’s Ryan Fox recovered from an opening nine of 40 for a round of 73 to follow his impressive 67 yesterday although he has slipped 20 places to 30th.
Fox’s teammate Daniel Hillier is back in 59th place in the 60-man field after his second round of 73.
Leaderboard
Australians off early pace in Paris
Jason Day has opened his Olympic campaign with a round of 70 on day one of the men’s competition at Le Golf National in Paris. He finds himself in a share of 21st place and six shots behind the brilliant round of 63 by Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama.
Day moved to 4 under when he birdied the 16th but then made a mess of the 18th with a double bogey to fall from a share of 6th to 21st on the congested leaderboard.
It is the first appearance in the Olympics for Day after declining the opportunity in 2016 and then missing the qualifying criteria in 2021 and he found the experience very unique.
“I was just saying a little bit earlier that this is probably the most nervous I’ve been wearing a set of clothes that you look down and see the colours,” said the Ohio-based Queenslander. “The first couple holes caught me off-guard actually quite a lot. I was quite nervous standing over the first tee shot and then it took me a few holes to get over it.
“It’s amazing, we’re not playing for money this week obviously. We are playing for a medal and you’re here for kind of playing for free. But my point is that it feels totally different. This is the most I’ve felt nervous standing on a tee box wearing a set of clothes that I’m wearing for the first time.
“It’s a good feeling because it just shows that it means a lot to me, which is good. So I’m happy about it.”
“18 sucked a little bit. Two just uncommitted swings, the wedge shot and the tee shot. Tidy that up and get to work on the range this afternoon.”
When asked whether there will come a time when a Gold Medal is revered as much as a major, Day responded;
“Potentially. That takes time and history. Over time, we’re in our third Olympics in since the 1900s. I think at some point it will. Just because there’s only one of them, you know what I mean. Currently on the men’s side, there’s only one Gold Medal that you can win. It’s not like you can jump into swimming and if you’re good enough, you can jump into different races. Over time it will just get bigger and bigger.”
Ryan Fox was the best of the four Australasians in the field, the New Zealander round in 4 under 67 to be tied for 6th.
Fox moved to 5 under when he birdied the 14th but a bogey at the 16th saw him finish four off the pace of Hideki.
Australia’s other competitor Min Woo Lee began with a horror round of 76 and is sharing last place of the 60 competitors while New Zealand’s second competitor, Daniel Hillier also struggled with an opening round of 75.
Lee was very disappointed with his effort.
“It was pretty garbage but I was saying in the other interview, sometimes you’re going to go a little bit backwards to go forwards. Working on a couple things and there was a lot of good out there.
“But it’s just unfortunate as a player. You always want to play your best but sometimes the results don’t show that, especially at a course like this where it’s pretty tough and penalising. I felt like I was in all the penalties today.
“Didn’t drive it anywhere near as good I normally do. Normally I’m striping it lately. Hitting it pretty good off the tee but lots of water and lots of balls missing. Had to just kind of battle through that and yeah, it’s quite tough when you’re in thick hay most of the day.”
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