The Round Table: The Men’s Olympic final was thrilling, can the women match it?

Each week we ask our panel of writers, PGA members and golf industry experts to weigh in with their views on the hot topics of the day.

With a thrilling final round 62 at Le Golf National, Scottie Scheffler steadily crept up the Olympic leaderboard on Sunday to claim the Gold Medal. Plenty of players had chances to win and while only one could, all of the players widely praised Olympic golf. What was your take on the competition?

Jim Deeks, Fairways Magazine (@jimdeeks): “Thrilling” is a perfect adjective for that final round!  A nail-biter to be sure, but what a victory for Scottie Scheffler, who’s now the indisputable Player of the Year.  I was so excited about the finish I made a comment on Facebook that they should declare the Olympic golf event a fifth major (albeit every four years).  An Irish friend of mine, in Limerick, responded “absolutely not a 5th major”.  I guess he was even more disappointed than I was with Rory’s double on 15.

Craig Loughry, Golf Ontario (@craigloughry): I think Olympic Golf has a place, I just don’t see it ever being on par with Majors is all. For players, it’s more like a throw-in feather in the cap if the medal. It’s a good tournament, it provided some drama at the finish.

TJ Rule, Golf Away Tours (@GolfAWayTJ): I thought he had no chance but showed us why he’s the best in the world. I thought it was a great competition and some of the best players in the world were in contention on the final 9.  The course also showed well, providing all the required drama of a championship layout.  All in all, a great competition and one that the pros are considering a big tourney to win, which is good to see.

Peter Mumford, Fairways Magazine (@FairwaysMag): Olympic golf seems to be a hit with all the participants and even some who didn’t make it to Paris. Despite all the brouhaha about money recently, two events with no prize money (the Ryder Cup and Olympic golf) are right up there with the majors. Representing their country means a lot to these guys. Scottie Scheffler wasn’t crying on the podium because he didn’t get paid.

Jon Rahm held a four-shot lead standing on the 11^th tee on Sunday but let it slip away in the final eight holes, eventually finishing T5. Likewise for Rory McIlroy, who rinsed his chances with a double on the 15th. Tommy Fleetwood fell out of a tie for the lead with a critical bogey on his 17^th hole and had to settle for the Silver Medal. Defending Olympic champion and third round co-leader Xander Schauffele never got untracked in the final and his 73 left him with a share of 9^th. All had been projected to contend. Which player leaves the Olympics most disappointed?

Deeks: Xander and Rory coulda and perhaps shoulda been on the podium and must’ve been feeling pretty empty as they walked off 18. But blowing a four-shot lead with eight holes to play, and finishing four back, has to be a dagger in the gut for Jon Rahm… even considering that Scottie’s 62 was a masterpiece of final round talent and concentration. You can win tournaments for many years as an elite professional golfer, but I think even these guys realize that a lot can happen over the course of four years, and will they be as elite as they are now, in 2028?  Having an Olympic Gold medal on your mantel would be a very sweet and very rare accomplishment… and to have had it in your grasp and let it slip away in perhaps your only chance to win, has to be massively disappointing.

Loughry: Rahm has to leave the Olympics the most disappointed, it was his for the taking, but just didn’t finish the job. Insert all the jokes here about playing 72 holes vs 54 on LIV Tour.

Rule: I think you’d have to say Jon Rahm given he had the gold medal in his grasp, and I’m sure he feels the pressure of defending his decision to leave for LIV.  It seemed like he had it all under control and he has to be very disappointed with his final eight holes.

Mumford: Disappointment sounds like such a mild feeling for what Jon Rahm experienced. Angry, fuming, volcanic might be a better description. When results don’t meet expectations, it’s natural to be disappointed. I think Matsuyama and Fleetwood probably exceeded expectations. McIlroy and Schauffele did not. Unsure which one is more disappointed but lean towards Schauffele because he came into the Olympics on such a high and then couldn’t get out of first gear on Sunday.

It’s the women’s turn at the Olympics this week. Defending Gold Medalist Nelly Korda is the favourite but after her thrilling six LPGA wins in a row earlier in the season, she missed three cuts in a row. If Korda can’t repeat, who’s your pick to claim the Gold Medal?

Deeks: Well, is anyone here on the panel NOT going to pick Brooke Henderson??  To be realistic, there’s probably a dozen competitors in the Women’s draw who could win it, but the only name I’m going to mention is Henderson. What a champion she would be!

Loughry: If not Korda, watch out for Amy Yang or Hannah Green, they’ve been trending up the last few months. I’d love to say Brooke, but she’s just kind of having a bland year (for her), not contending very often like we are accustomed to.

Rule: I like Lydia Ko and Brooke Henderson’s chances this week.  Brooke has played some good golf of late but not really been in contention come Sunday.  I see that changing this week and hope to see her bring home gold for Canada!

Mumford: It would be great if either Canadian woman could add another medal to the count, but I don’t see much evidence of winning form lately. If Korda isn’t in the mix, there are plenty of others ready to grab the Gold. One of the more interesting stories would be Lydia Ko earning medals in three consecutive Olympics. She already has a Bronze and Silver, so Gold would complete the set. It would also get her into the World Golf Hall of Fame. The other compelling story would be Frenchwoman Celine Boutier winning on home soil. Victor Perez almost nabbed a medal last week. A Boutier win would put a brilliant exclamation mark on these Olympics.