Scottie Scheffler gets emotional on Olympic podium as national anthem plays

Scottie Scheffler broke down in tears on the podium during the playing of the national anthem after winning the gold medal Sunday at Le Golf National in Paris.

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— Christopher Powers (@CPowers14) August 4, 2024

Scheffler entered Sunday’s final round four shots back of the lead but proved why he’s the No. 1 golfer in the world. He went out and shot a nine-under, 62 to take the gold medal, the United States’ second consecutive triumph in Olympic men’s golf following Xander Schauffele’s gold medal win at the 2020 Summer Games in Tokyo.

Scheffler, the 2024 Masters champion, shot three-under on the front nine before tallying six birdies, including four straight on holes 14-17, on the back nine. His four-round score of 19-under 265 is an Olympic record for 72 holes.

Scheffler, 28, surged to the lead for the first time on No. 17 after sinking an 18-foot birdie putt. Tommy Fleetwood, the Great Britain international, fell out of the lead on the 17th after recording a bogey. He got up and down for par on 18 to secure the silver medal. Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama finished 17-under to take the bronze.

Scottie Scheffler steals gold medal following Jon Rahm’s collapse

Spain’s Jon Rahm came into Sunday’s round with a share of the lead at 14-under and came out hot, birdying six of the first 10 holes. Rahm, however, suffered a collapse for the ages starting with a bogey on the 11th. He bogeyed 12, posted a double bogey on the 15th and then went bogey, bogey on 17 and 18. Rahm shot a one-under 70 and did not medal.

“I’ve been saying all week that I would know how much this means when the tournament was over,” Rahm said. “Sometimes you know when you win, but you definitely know when you don’t win it, and this just stings on a different emotional level. Hurts right now more than I expected.”

The gold medal victory is the latest accomplishment for Scheffler in a season which has been full of them. Scheffler tallied six wins on the PGA Tour this season, won his second green jacket at the Masters, earned a record $28 million in prize money and can now call himself an Olympic gold medalist. Oh, and who could forget his 66 in the second round of the PGA Championship at Valhalla back in May following his arrest just hours earlier.

Scheffler and his wife, Meredith, also welcomed their son, Bennett, into the world on May. 8. Meredith and Bennett were in attendance Sunday to celebrate with Scheffler.