The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Men's Golf's Scheffler earns gold medal at Paris Olympics
08.04.2024 | Men's Golf
Former Longhorn star and current world No. 1 ties the course record with a final-round 62 on Sunday.
PARIS, France — Former University of Texas star Scottie Scheffler claimed the gold medal on Sunday afternoon at the Paris Olympic Games at Le Golf National. Scheffler caught fire on the back nine and closed with a 6-under 29 en route to a course record-tying 9-under 62 in Sunday's final round to win by one stroke.
Scheffler, who entered the final round in a tie for sixth at 10-under overall and four strokes behind the leader, posted a 72-hole score of 19-under 265 (67-69-67-62). Tommy Fleetwood of Great Britain earned the silver medal at 18-under 266 (67-64-69-66), and Japan's Hideki Matsuyama claimed bronze at 17-under 267 (63-68-71-65).
Scheffler is the first Longhorn to claim an Olympic medal since Golf was added to the Olympic Games schedule in 2016. He became the third Texas men's golfer to compete in the Olympics and the first to represent Team USA. Jhonattan Vegas competed in the 2016 Rio Olympics and the 2020 Tokyo Olympics for Venezuela, while Brandon Stone represented South Africa at the 2016 Rio Olympics.
Scheffler got off to a great start in Sunday's round with birdies on each of his first three holes before making pars on his next six holes to make the turn at 13-under overall. He made birdies on holes 10 and 12 to climb to 15-under, and then followed with four consecutive birdies on holes 14, 15, 16 and 17. Scheffler closed with a five-foot par putt on 18 to finish at 9-under on the day and 19-under overall.
The University of Texas has now registered a total of 12 medals (four gold, five silver, three bronze) through the first 12 days of competition at the Paris Games.