GUYANCOURT, France — Protecting champion Xander Schauffele of the US remained on most sensible of the lads’s Olympic golfing leaderboard at 14-under par after the penultimate spherical on Saturday, sharing first position with Spain’s Jon Rahm.
Nice Britain’s Tommy Fleetwood, who held the in a single day lead with Schauffele and Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama, stayed within the medal hunt one shot at the back of the leaders prior to Sunday’s ultimate spherical at Le Golfing Nationwide close to the French capital.
The 60-strong box within the Olympic golfing pageant will likely be diminished by way of one on Sunday after Nice Britain’s Matt Fitzpatrick retired injured.
Rahm stepped forward from his in a single day fourth place by way of hitting his 2d instantly 5-under-par spherical of 66.
The 2023 Masters champion, who performs at the Saudi-backed LIV excursion, referenced a excellent efficiency on the Open Championship adopted by way of a win at LIV’s British tournament in July.
“For this final month, to be taking part in as excellent as I’ve … and provides myself a chance this week as smartly, could be very, very enjoyable,” he instructed journalists after his spherical.
Like previous within the week, Schauffele credited himself with steadying his recreation when had to make up for some unfastened pictures, particularly with an eagle at the par-5 14th.
Fleetwood referred to as Saturday the toughest spherical thus far, mentioning the wind and the format of the pins at the vegetables.
The 18th hollow once more proved a tricky take a look at with its slim fairway and water impediment, with Schauffele and Fleetwood relieved to avoid wasting par there, elevating the possibility of a traumatic finale on Sunday.
Matsuyama, who narrowly lacking bronze on house soil 3 years in the past, fell reasonably off the result in finish the day 11-under.
He shared fourth position with Denmark’s Nicolai Hojgaard, who sprung the wonder of the day by way of matching the route document with a 9-under-par spherical of 62.
Global No. 1 Scottie Scheffler used to be an additional stroke again at 10-under, tied-sixth in a bunch additionally together with Global No. 3 Rory McIlroy of Eire.
“It is like a leaderboard that you would be expecting on the Olympics and most likely what the game merits, if you happen to like, and glad to be part of it,” Fleetwood stated.
For France, Matthieu Pavon persevered extra distress, culminating in a triple bogey at the 18th that left him in final place at 10 over. However Victor Perez saved house hopes alive in joint-Thirteenth position at 8-under.
–Reuters, Particular to Box Degree Media
