Current:Home > reviewsOn golf's first day at Paris Olympics, an 'awesome atmosphere' stole the show -WealthDrive Solutions
On golf's first day at Paris Olympics, an 'awesome atmosphere' stole the show
View
Date:2025-04-13 23:05:19
SAINT-QUENTIN-EN-YVELINES, France – The last time Xander Schauffele teed it up in an Olympics, he won a gold medal for Team USA. But it says something about how special Thursday was that Schauffele walked of the golf course saying, “It feels like I’m here (in the Olympics) for the first time.”
“For me, Tokyo was really special, obviously. But there were no fans,” said Schauffele, referencing the games of three years ago defined by COVID-19 restrictions. “The city was closed. I was stuck in my hotel room. … (This) was an awesome atmosphere.”
Schauffele, fresh off major victories at The PGA Championship and The Open Championship, is enjoying a bit of a moment right now. When those happen, you can shoot a 6-under-par 65 in the opening round of the Paris Olympics – and be 5 under at the turn – and then afterward bemoan your “clanky start.”
You could say that Schauffele stole the show Thursday, along with Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama (8 under), the lone player ahead of him entering Round 2.
But it was the crowd at Le Golf National that players couldn’t stop talking about. From early in the morning through two lightning delays in the afternoon, it was packed and noisy, producing a lively environment and emotions that pro golfers seldom experience and certainly didn’t expect.
2024 Olympic medals: Who is leading the medal count? Follow along as we track the medals for every sport.
“Unbelievable. It was very surprising,” said Ireland’s Rory McIlroy, who is tied for 14th at 3 under. “With so many events going on spread all across the city, for people to venture out here and watch us play, it was a really cool atmosphere. ... I don't really know what I expected today, but this definitely exceeded those expectations."
McIlroy was paired with Scottie Scheffler (4 under) and Ludvig Aberg (3 under) in one of the morning’s most high-profile groups. They arrived at the first tee to cheers and a swarming gallery that didn’t abate throughout the round.
With only 20 groups on the course, fans kept following most players. It was congested, Schauffele said, but "in the best way possible."
“I don't know. It felt different,” Schauffele said. “You hear some 'USA' chants.”
It wasn't a golf crowd. Spectators wore national colors and waved flags and roared and chanted for countries, rather than individuals. It’s something that clearly was missing with golf in the past two Olympics, but it wasn’t unique for these Paris Games.
Crowds at most events have been full and spirited in such a way.
“Incredible,” said USA’s Collin Morikawa. “The first tee was, I wouldn't say quite a Ryder Cup, but it was way more than a normal tournament, for sure, and way more than you'd ever see on a Thursday.”
There was plenty for which to cheer, too. Scores were low, which had to do with the lack of wind and softer greens, owing to overnight rain in the Paris area. Of the 60 players in the field, 47 shot par or better on Thursday.
A group of 13 golfers at 4 under or better included South Korea’s Tom Kim (5 under), USA’s Scottie Scheffler (4 under), Great Britain’s Tommy Fleetwood (4 under) and Spain’s Jon Rahm (4 under).
Among the four Americans who qualified for the field, Schauffele and Scheffler – as would be expected – are in the thick of it after the first day. Morikawa is tied for 29th at 1 under. Wyndham Clark started slowly and finished 4 over, one shot out of last place.
“I think scores will continue to be low,” Morikawa said. “You've got to hit it in the fairway, but if you're in the fairway, you can attack pins. … I didn't hit it well today to even give myself chances, and honestly didn't really make anything.”
The crowd’s biggest roars Thursday went to Matthieu Pavon of France, who also wasn’t happy with his round. He finished at even par, saying the emotions of it all were too much at times.
“That was a crazy moment, which I wasn't prepared for,” Pavon said. “That moment, it was too big, too many emotions, too many people screaming just your name. It's very special.”
Reach Gentry Estes at gestes@gannett.com and on the X platform (formerly known as Twitter) @Gentry_Estes.
veryGood! (56991)
Related
- What to watch: O Jolie night
- Search goes on for missing Virginia woman, husband charged with concealing a body
- NFL Sunday Ticket price breakdown: How much each package costs, plus deals and discounts
- Ezra Frech wins more gold; US 400m runners finish 1-2 again
- What to know about Tuesday’s US House primaries to replace Matt Gaetz and Mike Waltz
- Ellen Degeneres announces 'last comedy special of her career' on Netflix
- Chad T. Richards, alleged suspect in murder of gymnast Kara Welsh, appears in court
- Obsessed With Hoop Earrings? Every Set in This Story Is Under $50
- Selena Gomez's "Weird Uncles" Steve Martin and Martin Short React to Her Engagement
- Former Venezuelan political prisoner arrested in Miami after a fatal hit-and-run crash, police say
Ranking
- Paula Abdul settles lawsuit with former 'So You Think You Can Dance' co
- Kim Kardashian Reveals Son Saint Signed “Extensive Contract Before Starting His YouTube Channel
- Fantasy football rankings for Week 1: The party begins
- Man sentenced to over 1 year in prison for thousands of harassing calls to congressional offices
- Megan Fox's ex Brian Austin Green tells Machine Gun Kelly to 'grow up'
- Jools Lebron filed trademark applications related to her ‘very demure’ content. Here’s what to know
- Search goes on for missing Virginia woman, husband charged with concealing a body
- World pumps out 57 million tons of plastic pollution yearly and most comes in Global South
Recommendation
Finally, good retirement news! Southwest pilots' plan is a bright spot, experts say
Israelis go on strike as hostage deaths trigger demand for Gaza deal | The Excerpt
Chicago man charged in fatal shooting of 4 sleeping on train near Forest Park: police
11-year-old boy charged with killing former Louisiana city mayor, his daughter: Police
EU countries double down on a halt to Syrian asylum claims but will not yet send people back
WNBA rookie power rankings: Caitlin Clark just about clinches Rookie of the Year
Justin Theroux Shares Ex Jennifer Aniston Is Still Very Dear to Him Amid Nicole Brydon Bloom Engagement
Harris to propose $50K tax break for small business in economic plan