Xander Schauffele Takes Slim Lead Into Final Round Of Olympics
Xander Schauffele Takes Slim Lead Into Final Round Of Olympics
Xander Schauffele will take a one-shot lead into the final day of the Olympics, with a whole host of big names in hot pursuit of the American.
Xander Schauffele Takes Slim Lead Into Final Round Of Olympics
Team USA's Xander Schauffele produced a stunning birdie at the final hole to secure the 54-hole lead at Kasumigaseki Country Club.
In hot pursuit of Schauffele is Japan's golfing superstar Hideki Matsuyama, who put together a four-under-par round of 67 to sit just one shot back.
There was good news for Team GB as Paul Casey and Tommy Fleetwood sit inside the top-10 in Tokyo.
Casey fired six birdies and a single bogey in his five-under-par round to sit two shots back, whilst Fleetwood shot one of the rounds of the day (64), leaving him just four behind going into the final day.
Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry continue to keep Ireland's hope of a medal alive. The duo, who were paired together for the third round, shot four (McIlroy) and three-under-par (Lowry) rounds to also sit inside the top-10.
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Currently though, it's Schauffele who leads the way, but it is still far from over, with the American finding himself tied alongside multiple players throughout the third round.
After a one-under-par front nine, the 27-year-old was soon in a five-way tie for the lead, before birdies at the 11th and 15th put him back in front by two.
That slim margin soon evaporated though, as Schauffele bogeyed the par-3 16th, whilst his playing partner, Carlos Ortiz, drained a huge birdie putt for a crucial two-shot swing.
Up ahead, Casey was putting on a charge for Team GB, with back-to-back closing birdies putting the 44-year-old as the clubhouse leader at 12-under-par.
However, he was soon passed by Schauffele and Matsuyama, who revealed he was "a little bit nervous,” about the prospect of competing at the Olympics in his home country.
Whatever nerves there were, they weren't on show for the 29-year-old, as a birdie on the 17th put him to 13-under-par and in a three-way tie at the top of the leaderboard with Ortiz and Schauffele.
But, a closing birdie for Schauffele, would give the American a slim advantage going into the final day, his 14-under-par total leading a stacked chasing pack.
Matt joined Golf Monthly in February 2021 covering weekend news, before also transitioning to equipment and testing. After freelancing for Golf Monthly and The PGA for 18 months, he was offered a full-time position at the company in October 2022 and continues to cover weekend news and social media, as well as help look after Golf Monthly’s many buyers’ guides and equipment reviews.
Taking up the game when he was just seven years of age, Matt made it into his county squad just a year later and continues to play the game at a high standard, with a handicap of around 2-4. To date, his best round came in 2016, where he shot a six-under-par 66 having been seven-under through nine holes. He currently plays at Witney Lakes in Oxfordshire and his favourite player is Rory McIlroy, despite nearly being struck by his second shot at the 17th during the 2015 BMW PGA Championship.
Matt’s current What’s In The Bag?
Driver: Honma TW747, 8.75°
Fairway Wood: TaylorMade Rocketballz Stage 2, 15°, 19°
Hybrid: Adams Super Hybrid, 22°
Irons: Mizuno MP54, 5-PW
Wedges: Cleveland 588 RTX 2.0 Tour Satin, 50°, 56°, 60°
Putter: Cleveland TFI 2135 Satin Cero
Ball: Titleist Pro V1x
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