PARIS: Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama shot a sparkling eight-under-par opening round to take the lead in the men’s golf competition ahead of Xander Schauffele in a packed field at the Paris Olympics on Thursday.

Former Masters champion Matsuyama missed out on a bronze medal in a play-off three years ago when one of the faces of the Tokyo Olympics.

But he made a magnificent start to his latest medal bid, rolling in eight birdies to move two shots clear of reigning champion Schauffele at the top of the early leaderboard at Le Golf National.

“I had a lot of chances, so I’m happy,” said Matsuyama after only missing out on tying the course record of 62 at the 2018 Ryder Cup venue by one shot.

A host of big names kept themselves within striking distance, though, in ideal conditions for low scoring following overnight rain.

Schauffele took his brilliant run of form into his tilt at becoming the first golfer to win multiple Olympic gold medals.

The American, who won his first two major titles at the PGA Championship and the British Open this year, made seven birdies in a six-under 65.

World number one Scottie Scheffler looked in ominous form on his Olympic debut as he eased to a bogey-free 67, while Rory McIlroy is only one shot further back despite making four bogeys.

Joaquin Niemann fired a 66 to sit tied-third while former world number one Jason Day signed for a two-under 69.

Frenchmen Victor Perez was roared on by the home crowds and responded with a four-under back nine to salvage a 70 after a difficult opening stretch.

Golf was controversially reintroduced to the Olympic schedule after a 112-year absence in 2016 and Paris is the first time either of the world’s top two-ranked male players have featured. The Rio Games was hit by a series of withdrawals, as was Tokyo due to Covid.

Published in Dawn, August 2nd, 2024