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.”
Xander Schauffele of Team USA plays a shot from a bunker on the second hole during the first round of men’s stroke play at the Paris Olympics.
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.
More: USA Today’s 2024 Olympics hub | How to watch | Full men’s field | Full women’s field | Medal standings
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.
“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.
A fan wears a shirt with the mugshot of Scottie Scheffler on the 18th green during the first round of men’s stroke play during the Paris 2024 Olympic Summer Games at Le Golf National. (Michael Madrid-USA TODAY Sports)
With only 20 groups on the course, fans kept following most players. It was congested, Schauffele said,…
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