When golf returned to the Olympics in 2016, it was derided and seen as meaning about the same as an average PGA tournament.
Several top players skipped the Rio Games due to its proximity to significant Zika virus concerns. Five years later, the Tokyo Games passed without much fanfare.
However, any question about what gold means to golf’s best now was answered, and more as tears leaked from Scottie Scheffler’s eyes while The Star Spangled Banner played on the medal stand at Le Golf National on Sunday.
The 28-year-old then shared a kiss with his wife Meredith, who was holding their 3-month-old son Bennett.
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Scheffler’s final round 62 and a stunning collapse from Spain’s Jon Rahm helped the American win gold for the first time at the Paris Games, putting an exclamation point on a season that also includes a Masters win.
Scheffler, the world’s top-ranked golfer, came into Sunday four shots off the lead before making three straight birdies to open the day.
That set the tone for a charge, putting him atop the leaderboard for good.
Tommy Fleetwood and Hideki Matsuyama, who finished with silver and bronze, respectively, looked just as thrilled on the medal stand. Matsuyama broke out his phone for a selfie.
Sunday finally answered all the questions about whether golf should be in the Olympics.
No one, but no one, can say now that it doesn’t mean much to those involved.
