Despite the pandemic and a number of withdrawals, Tokyo 2020 was a huge success for the game of golf
Golf made its second appearance in the Olympics since 1904 at Tokyo 2020 as Xander Schauffele took the gold medal at Kasumigaseki Country Club.
Xander made a clutch par save on the 18th hole after chipping out of the trees to edge out Slovakia’s Rory Sabbatini, who took silver.
The bronze medal went to CT Pan after a marathon seven-man playoff, which featured the likes of Rory McIlroy, Collin Morikawa and Paul Casey.
McIlroy wasn’t in Rio last time out but he will be in Paris in three years if he makes the team after getting bitten by the Olympic bug.
“Coming here experiencing it, seeing, feeling everything that goes on, not just Olympic golf but just the Olympics in general, that sort of Olympic spirit’s definitely bitten me and I’m excited how this week’s turned out and excited for the future,” he said.
Rory also said that he had never tried to hard so finish third before in his life.
McIlroy’s attendance, and crucially his words, ensure that golf’s relationship with the Olympics continues to grow.
Whilst he might not currently be the best player in the world, he is the biggest name and the figurehead of the sport as Tiger Woods remains sidelined.
Rory clearly loved his experience and played his heart out to try and win the bronze, and he will surely be telling stories and urging everyone to realise their Olympic dream over the next three years.
Whilst watching the conclusion it was clear just how much the Games and the gold, silver and bronze meant to the competitors.
They weren’t competing for $1.5m or 500 FedEx Cup points, a PGA Tour card or job security, they were competing for their nations and for arguably the greatest prize in sport.
The Games shows off competition in its purest nature and golf is as great a sport as there is.
There were fewer withdrawals this time around than in Rio, where Zika virus was a common excuse, so next time in Paris there will hopefully be no Covid concerns and a field as strong as possible.
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