Rahm stuns golf with ‘choke of the year’ to blow gold

Australia’s Jason Day performed impressively, securing ninth place on the leaderboard.

The dramatic downfall of Jon Rahm, last year’s Masters champion who shocked the golf world in December by joining LIV Golf for $900 million despite previously criticizing the breakaway league, was a major talking point.

“I’m gonna put that down as one of the biggest collapses, chokes of the year. Right up there with Rory McIlroy at the US Open,” veteran golf pundit and outspoken LIV critic Brandel Chamblee told CBS.

Golf was left stunned by Rahm’s Olympic disaster, described as “one of the biggest collapses, chokes of the year.”

Scottie Scheffler displayed remarkable composure and skill, delivering the best closing round of his career. The final two hours were a spectacle of charges and collapses, culminating in the Olympic gold medal being awarded to the world’s top male golfer.

As Scheffler stood on the top podium, the national anthem played across Le Golf National. Overcome with emotion, Scheffler raised his left arm to cover his sobs as tears flowed, a familiar sight for the champion whose latest triumph brought out his very best.

Starting the final round four shots behind and trailing by six early on the back nine, Scheffler birdied five of six holes down the stretch and tied the course record with a 9-under 62, clinching a one-shot victory over Tommy Fleetwood.

“It’s been a long week. It’s been a challenging week. I played some great golf today, and I’m proud to be going home with a medal,” Scheffler said. “These guys played tremendous golf and I think we should all be proud of the golf that we played this week.”

The event was a show-stopper, the best of the three men’s competitions since golf returned to the Olympic program in 2016, thrilling the 30,000 spectators who got their money’s worth.

Scheffler’s remarkable surge, shooting 29 on the back nine, the relentless play of Fleetwood (66), and Hideki Matsuyama, who had birdie chances on the final six holes but settled for pars, earning the bronze with a 65, were standout moments.

In contrast, Jon Rahm’s stunning collapse saw a four-shot lead vanish in two holes, with his hopes dashed by a double bogey. Rory McIlroy, one shot behind, faltered by hitting a wedge into the water. Xander Schauffele, the PGA and British Open champion, had a chance for another gold but stumbled over a four-hole stretch, playing it in 4-over par.

Australia’s Jason Day performed impressively, securing ninth place on the leaderboard.

The dramatic downfall of Jon Rahm, last year’s Masters champion who shocked the golf world in December by joining LIV Golf for $900 million despite previously criticizing the breakaway league, was a major talking point.

“I’m gonna put that down as one of the biggest collapses, chokes of the year. Right up there with Rory McIlroy at the US Open,” veteran golf pundit and outspoken LIV critic Brandel Chamblee told CBS.

Golf was left stunned by Rahm’s Olympic disaster, described as “one of the biggest collapses, chokes of the year.”

Scottie Scheffler displayed remarkable composure and skill, delivering the best closing round of his career. The final two hours were a spectacle of charges and collapses, culminating in the Olympic gold medal being awarded to the world’s top male golfer.

As Scheffler stood on the top podium, the national anthem played across Le Golf National. Overcome with emotion, Scheffler raised his left arm to cover his sobs as tears flowed, a familiar sight for the champion whose latest triumph brought out his very best.

Starting the final round four shots behind and trailing by six early on the back nine, Scheffler birdied five of six holes down the stretch and tied the course record with a 9-under 62, clinching a one-shot victory over Tommy Fleetwood.

“It’s been a long week. It’s been a challenging week. I played some great golf today, and I’m proud to be going home with a medal,” Scheffler said. “These guys played tremendous golf and I think we should all be proud of the golf that we played this week.”

The event was a show-stopper, the best of the three men’s competitions since golf returned to the Olympic program in 2016, thrilling the 30,000 spectators who got their money’s worth.

Scheffler’s remarkable surge, shooting 29 on the back nine, the relentless play of Fleetwood (66), and Hideki Matsuyama, who had birdie chances on the final six holes but settled for pars, earning the bronze with a 65, were standout moments.

In contrast, Jon Rahm’s stunning collapse saw a four-shot lead vanish in two holes, with his hopes dashed by a double bogey. Rory McIlroy, one shot behind, faltered by hitting a wedge into the water. Xander Schauffele, the PGA and British Open champion, had a chance for another gold but stumbled over a four-hole stretch, playing it in 4-over par.