Scottie Scheffler added an Olympic gold medal to his six PGA TOUR titles during the men’s Summer Olympics golf tournament on Aug. 4 at Le Golf National outside Paris, France.
Scheffler, 28, constructed a back-nine 29, a final-round course-record-equaling 62, and came from four shots off the pace to finish at 19-under-par 269 for a one-stroke victory over Great Britain’s Tommy Fleetwood in a dramatic dash for Olympic gold. Fleetwood was tied with Scheffler at 19-under but bogeyed the 17th hole to settle for the silver medal in the 72-hole competition.
Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama earned the bronze medal at 17-under.
With wife Meredith and 3-month-old son Bennett looking on, Scheffler put together another of his patented final-round runs with six birdies on the closing nine after trailing overnight co-leaders Xander Schauffele – the 2024 PGA Champion who was pursuing back-to-back gold medals – and Spain’s Jon Rahm by four shots. Rahm was seemingly on cruise control after a front-nine 31 in the closing round, but double bogeyed the par-5 14th hole and played the back nine in 39. Scheffler completed his improbable comeback with a series of four straight birdies from Nos. 14–17 and saved his par on 18 with a 6-foot putt.
On the medals podium with a gold medal around his neck, Scheffler wept pridefully and proudly.
“I take tremendous pride in representing my country and it was very emotional to be on stage as the flag was being raised and the national anthem was playing,” admitted Scheffler, who continues to credit longtime coach, PGA of America Golf Professional Randy Smith, for much of his success. “I don’t usually cry in public, but it was emotional being on the podium and realizing you had just won a gold medal. The entire Olympic experience is something I will never forget.”
PGA of America mourns Dornisch’s passing
Statement from the PGA of America on the passing of Larry Dornisch, PGA, on June 12 at age 74:
“The PGA of America mourns the passing of a 50-year PGA of America Member and our 2020 Bill Strausbaugh Award winner, Larry Dornisch. Throughout his tenure at Lost Tree and Muirfield Village, Larry showed an incredible passion for mentoring and making an impact on the lives of PGA of America Golf Professionals. Our condolences go out to his fellow Southern Ohio PGA Section Members, his family and friends.”