Olympic Men's Golf Competition - The debrief

A look back at an incredible four days at Le Golf National.

Scottie Scheffler continued his dominance at the top of the men's game, Tommy Fleetwood ran him close, Victor Perez delighted the home crowds and the Højgaards shared history at the Olympic Men's Golf Competition.

Here, we reflect on a remarkable week in Paris as golf took its place on sport's biggest stage.

Scheffler goes low for emotional win

Scheffler produced a spectacular course record-equalling 62 to emerge from a star-studded leaderboard and win gold. On a thrilling final day, the American was flawless from start to finish as he surged to victory with a devastating back-nine 29 to underline his status as the World Number One. Fleetwood of Great Britain fell just short of emulating Rio 2016 gold medallist Justin Rose as a closing 66 saw him settle for silver, one shot behind at 18 under. Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama rounded out the podium finishers with bronze, finishing a shot further back.

"I'm proud to be sitting here with a gold medal," said Scheffler, who was in tears on the podium as the Star Spangled Banner played.

"And as far as legacy goes, I try not to think about it too much. I'm just out here competing and trying to stay present and working as hard as I can and trying to get the most out of myself. 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."

Fleetwood proud to take silver

Fleetwood grew up never believing he would one day become an Olympic Games medallist, but now he is. In his second appearance at sport’s biggest global spectacle, the Englishman claimed Great Britain’s second golf medal since its return to the Olympic programme in 2016. In the heat of a fierce battle that featured a host of the world’s leading players, Fleetwood had given it his all, and on another day his closing five-under 66 could have been enough.

“There's part of me that's disappointed, of course, but at the same time, I never dreamt that I would be an Olympic medallist,” the seven-time DP World Tour winner said.

"As a young boy taking up the game of golf, none of us had a chance to win Olympic gold so it was never on our agenda. That quickly changes when you're part of the Olympics, and it feels unbelievably special. I know I didn't win gold but standing on that podium with a medal was one of the most amazing moments I've had as a golfer."

Bronze helps heal Matsuyama's home heartache

Matsuyama arrived at the last Olympics in Tokyo as the Masters champion and one of the poster athletes for the host nation, in the same way that the likes of Jessica Ennis-Hill and Cathy Freeman had done before him and Léon Marchand has in Paris. His loss in a seven-man play-off saw him agonisingly miss out on a bronze medal but three years later a closing 65 put him on the podium.

"I wasn’t able to play Rio and last time I failed to win a medal in the play-off, but coach (Shikegi) Maruyama has been with the team now for 12 years and even though it’s not a gold, I’m still very happy was able to win this medal. I'd love for this to be a catalyst for promoting men's golf even more. I’m also really looking forward to working hard for the next Olympics."

Late surge sees Perez delight home crowds

So near, yet so far for Perez. In a home Olympics, the Frenchman fell just shy of what would have been a dream medal - but he leaves Le Golf National with no regrets. In a week that began with the honour of hitting the opening tee-shot, Perez thrilled the home crowds over the course of the subsequent 72 holes, but particularly in Sunday’s final round as he threatened to force his way onto the podium. After posting a 63 to reach 16 under, all Perez could do was wait and hope as the final groups finished their rounds.

“The amphitheatre at the end: 15, 16, the big crowd right of 18, I think that's what makes Le Golf National so special is coming down the stretch when the crowd is there,” he said.

“We saw it at the Ryder Cup even more where mounds were completely covered with people along with the grandstand, and even the people on the first were trying to look over to 18, which is quite a way away. The theatre at the end created a stadium-like atmosphere that we don't get to experience that often, which I think we all enjoy but we don't get often in golf.”

Nicolai Højgaard joins brother Rasmus in elite club

Before the Olympics, only two players had shot a 62 at Le Golf National but that total was doubled last week. Scheffler's closing effort might take the headlines but Nicolai Højgaard also carded a 62 on Saturday, matching Eduardo Romero and identical twin brother Rasmus, with the latter signing for a nine-under total at the 2022 Open de France.

"I was there in 22 when he was close to winning here," said Nicolai.

“So I saw it all, how he handled things and how the course was playing. It's playing pretty similar."