Olympic golfer Tommy Fleetwood believes the leaderboard is….
The Masters, in Rory McIlroy’s opinion, has a “better atmosphere,” while Tommy Fleetwood is certain that the Olympics finally “has the leaderboard it deserves.”
And both of these European superstars have promised to deliver a performance worthy of winning the gold that will mark sport’s rightful return to the Games schedule, in the site of one of America’s greatest Ryder Cup defeats.
Fleetwood played a 69 to finish at 13-under, one shot behind the pace set by Xander Schauffele and Jon Rahm on another day when the size and support of the galleries astounded everyone in attendance. Naturally, the competitors that Fleetwood faced on Sunday in the final group are the big victors; Schauffele is not only the current Olympic champion but also the
On a scoreboard that is the stuff of dreams for the International Golf Federation, which worked so hard to have the sport reinstated in 2016 after a 112-year hiatus, Fleetwood’s opponents to deny Team GB the top spot on the podium do not stop there. Nicolai Hojgaard, a 23-year-old Englishman who plays in the Ryder Cup, showed what is possible around Le Golf National with a 62 that catapulted him into fourth place on 11-under.
The Dane’s nine-under magnificence must afford Team Ireland’s McIlroy positivity that he can breach his four-shot gap after a 66. Alongside McIlroy is Scottie Scheffler, the world No 1, who won the Masters in April and has prevailed on five other occasions in 2024. Chuck in the likes of Tom Kim – also on 10-under – and world No 5 Ludvig Aberg and this line-up is, as Fleetwood pointed out, perhaps the finest of the season going into the final round. “Just look at that leaderboard – it’s amazing,” he said. “It’s the leaderboard that you’d expect at the Olympics and probably what the sport deserves. I’m excited to be part of it.” What Fleetwood would give for a round similar to Hojgaard, whose efforts were made all
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