Lightning delayed the men’s Olympic golf competition opening round at Le Golf National, close outside Paris. The suspension began at 4:26 p.m. local time (10:26 a.m. ET), when 19 players remained on the course.
Hideki Matsuyama of Japan leads the clubhouse with an 8-under 63. Matsuyama is aiming for his first Olympic medal after narrowly missing bronze in a playoff at the Tokyo Olympics. Defending champion Xander Schauffele, who has won two major titles this year, was 6 under through 17 holes.
Play will resume at 5:05 p.m., with practice facilities open for players. The weather forecast predicts little rain for the remainder of the week, with no chance of rain on Friday and a 10% chance on Saturday and Sunday.
Olympics
The 2024 Paris Olympics have commenced, featuring the men’s golf tournament with 60 elite players from across the globe at Le Golf National. Schauffele is looking to defend his title, while Team USA includes world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, Wyndham Clark, and Collin Morikawa.
Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry are on Team Ireland, while Tommy Fleetwood and Matt Fitzpatrick represent Team Britain. The men’s competition lasts from August 1-4, while the women’s event lasts from August 7-10.
Xander Schauffele leads the US and is in second position, two strokes behind Matsuyama on 6-under par. After making seven birdies in the first round, Schauffele will join Viktor Hovland (Norway) and Jon Rahm (Spain) for the next round on Friday, one of several outstanding partnerships at the Paris Games.
Scottie Scheffler, the world number one, remains a medal hopeful in his Olympic debut, shooting 4-under par on Thursday and tying for sixth position with seven other players. Out of 60 golfers in Paris, 41 will begin Friday’s second round at Le Golf National under par.
Following a brief lightning delay, Olympic golf resumed, delighting spectators with strong competition and outstanding performances. The delay did little to dampen the athletes’ spirits, who swiftly regained their composure and provided superb performance. As the competition progresses, all eyes are on the golfers as they compete for Olympic glory.
ALSO READ:
- Tiger Woods Opens PGA at 1-Over 72
- 2024 Masters: Start Time, Viewing Options, Betting Odds
- 2024 Masters: Start Time, Viewing Options, Betting Odds
