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 last month and he has continued his excellent form this season at Le Golf National.
Schauffele was part of a three-way share of the halfway lead at 14 under, but he shot a 3-under-par 68 that was highlighted by an eagle at the par-five 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 fifth 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 shot off the leaders.
Nicolai Højgaard enjoyed the round of the week so far as he matched the course record of 62 with 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.
On the biggest stage, Nicolai Højgaard rises to the occasion! 🇩🇰
— Olympic Golf (@OlympicGolf) August 3, 2024
He has tied the course record at Le Golf National.#OlympicGolf pic.twitter.com/0ZVSYi4g5s
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 three bogeys in a round that fluctuated, McIlroy enjoyed his first flawless score of the week as he made five birdies in a 66.
Thomas Detry of Belgium and South 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.
