Olympics Men's Golf Leaderboard: Schauffele, Matsuyama And Fleetwood Tied At The Top
By Elliott Heath,
2024-08-01The men's Olympics golf tournament is shaping up to be a fascinating watch over the weekend with a three-way tie at the top of the leaderboard.
Hideki Matsuyama led after a 63 in round one but he was caught by defending gold medallist Xander Schauffele and Tommy Fleetwood.
He chipped in for birdie on 16 and then birdied 17 to pull ahead but dropped two strokes with a double bogey on the final hole.
Two-time Major winner Jon Rahm is also challenging, while Belgium's Thomas Detry matched Matsuyama's opening 63 to reach eight-under.
Follow live updates and the latest scores:
Olympics golf leaderboard
- -11 Xander Schauffele (USA)
- -11 Hideki Matsuyama (Japan)
- -11 Tommy Fleetwood (Great Britain)
- -9 Jon Rahm (Spain)
- -8 Thomas Detry (Belgium)
- -8 CT Pan (Chinese Taipei)
- -8 Tom Kim (South Korea)
- -7 Stephan Jaeger (Germany)
- -7 Guido Migliozzi (Italy)
- -6 Erik van Rooyen (South Africa)
- -6 Joaquin Niemann (Chile)
- -6 Scottie Scheffler (USA)
- -5 Matt Fitzpatrick (Great Britain)
- -5 Victor Perez (France)
- -5 Alejandro Tosti (Argentina)
- -5 Corey Conners (Canada)
- -5 Jason Day (Australia)
- -5 Rory McIlroy (Ireland)
- Olympics Men's Golf Tee Times
- How To Watch The Men's Olympic Golf
- Olympics Golf 2028 Venue
- Perks Of Winning Olympic Gold
- Olympics Golf Format Explained
Good morning and welcome to the first round of the 2024 men's Olympic golf competition.
The weather is beautiful in Paris and the course looks great too, with 60 players hoping to put a low score on the board on day one.
TOUGH START FOR WYNDHAM CLARK
The 2023 US Open champion bogeyed the 1st and has made double at the par-3 2nd after chunking his tee shot into the water. He's three-over after two holes.
LUDVIG ABERG INTO THE WATER ON 1
The Swede is one of the favorites for gold but he's hit a poor tee shot down the 1st, pulling it into the water. Will do well to make par.
MICHAEL PHELPS ON-SITE
The legendary swimmer, who is the most decorated Olympian of all time, loves his golf and it's great to see him at Le Golf National this morning showing his support.
MCILROY IN CLOSE AT THE 1ST
The World No.3 will have a good look for birdie on the 1st from around 10ft. Aberg has hit it in tight to save his par after finding the water. Scheffler has around 20ft for birdie.
SCHEFFLER BIRDIE!
The World No.1 rolls in a 20-footer at the 1st and he gets off to the perfect start.
MCILROY BIRDIE PUTT SLIDES BY
It's a par for McIlroy at the 1st.
DIFFICULT START FOR MIN WOO LEE
Lee is bottom of the leaderboard alongside Wyndham Clark at three-over after a double at the 1st and then another bogey at the par-5 3rd.
FLEETWOOD UNDER PAR
The Team GB star rolls in a six-footer at the par-5 3rd to get under par.
MCILROY STRUGGLING AT 2
Team Ireland's McIlroy misses the green to the right of the par-3 2nd and his bunker shot goes well long of the pin. Looks like a bogey is on its way.
MCILROY BOGEY
McIlroy does indeed bogey the 2nd. His tee shot pushed into the bunker did the damage there, albeit his sand shot wasn't the best either.
NIEMANN THE FIRST MAN TO -3
The LIV Golf money list leader follows up his eagle at the 3rd with a birdie at the 6th to become the first man to reach three-under-par.
SCHEFFLER, WOW.
Scottie just missed the hole by about an inch or two with his 3-wood into the par-5 3rd. He's ran around 20ft past the pin so is looking likely to make at least a birdie.
STUNNING CHIP FROM MCILROY
The World No.3 plays an explosion-style shot from the thick tough at the 3rd and it rolls up to tap-in distance. He gets back to level par after that dropped shot at the 2nd.
WYNDHAM CLARK STRUGGLES CONTINUE
The World No.5 is currently in last-place of the players on the course right now at four-over after 4 holes.
SCHEFFLER BIRDIES 3
A very easy birdie for the World No.1. His second shot was truly stunning and so nearly dropped for an albatross. Great start!
ABERG ALSO BIRDIES 3
The star trio of Scheffler-Aberg-McIlroy all birdie the 3rd.
Ludvig is now one of 15 men under par.
MATTI SCHMID TO THREE-UNDER
The German, who is a past Open silver medallist, birdies 3, 6 and 7 to join Joaquin Niemann at the top of the leaderboard.
OLYMPIC MEN'S TEE TIMES STILL TO COME:
(ET/BST)
- 5.06am (10.06am): Adrian Meronk (Poland), Sami Valimaki (Finland), David Puig (Spain)
- 5.17am (10.17am): Erik van Rooyen (South Africa), Keita Nakajima (Japan), Kevin Yu (Chinese Taipei)
- 5.33am (10.33am): Stephan Jaeger (Germany), Nicolai Højgaard (Denmark), Thomas Detry (Belgium)
- 5.44am (10.44am): Byeong Hun An (Korea), Shane Lowry (Ireland), Nick Taylor (Canada)
- 5.55am (10.55am): Xander Schauffele (USA), Viktor Hovland (Norway), Jon Rahm (Spain)
- 6.06am (11.06am): Matthieu Pavon (France), Collin Morikawa (USA), Matt Fitzpatrick (Great Britain)
- 6.17am (11.17am): Shubhankar Sharma (India), Rafael Campos (Puerto Rico), Carlos Ortiz (Mexico)
- 6.28am (11.28am): Nico Echavarria (Colombia), Mito Pereira (Chile), Kris Ventura (Norway)
- 6.39am (11.39am): Fabrizio Zanotti (Paraguay), Joel Girrbach (Switzerland), Tapio Pulkkanen (Finland)
NIEMANN TO FOUR-UNDER!
The LIV star birdies the 8th and he's the first man to four-under-par. Matti Schmid just made a bogey so Niemann has a two-stroke lead at the top.
NIEMANN FLYING.
Here's how he's started:
- Par
- Par
- Eagle
- Par
- Par
- Birdie
- Par
- Birdie
CONNERS CLOSES TO WITHIN ONE
The Canadian PGA Tour star moves to three-under and within one of Niemann's lead after back-to-back birdies at 6 and 7.
HUGE BIRDIE FROM MCILROY!
The World No.2 rolls in a monster from outside 30ft at the par-4 5th to get back to under par.
HUGE PUTT FOR FLEETWOOD
Team GB star Tommy Fleetwood moves to within two of the lead after a monster birdie putt at the 8th.
Lots of movement on the leaderboard this morning at Le Golf National in perfect conditions. Niemann still leads by one but the pack below is charging, including Tom Kim who has three birdies in four holes.
THREE-WAY TIE AT THE TOP
Matti Schmid has joined Niemann at four-under after birdies at 10 and 11, while Hideki Matsuyama has also moved to the top after back-to-back birdies at 7 and 8.
MATTHIEU PAVON ON THE TEE
The home hero has received a stunning reception on the 1st tee and ran in high-fiving the crowd. Pavon has had a superb year after winning his maiden PGA Tour title at the Farmers Insurance Open early in the season.
Meanwhile, Xander Schauffele has got his gold medal defense underway and he's missed the 1st green in two.
REMAINING OLYMPICS TEE TIMES TO COME
(ET/BST)
- 6.06am (11.06am): Matthieu Pavon (France), Collin Morikawa (USA), Matt Fitzpatrick (Great Britain)
- 6.17am (11.17am): Shubhankar Sharma (India), Rafael Campos (Puerto Rico), Carlos Ortiz (Mexico)
- 6.28am (11.28am): Nico Echavarria (Colombia), Mito Pereira (Chile), Kris Ventura (Norway)
- 6.39am (11.39am): Fabrizio Zanotti (Paraguay), Joel Girrbach (Switzerland), Tapio Pulkkanen (Finland)
SCHAUFFELE CHIP-IN!
After missing the green to the right of the 1st hole, the defending gold medallist and two-time Major champion chips it in for a stunning birdie. What a start!
MATSUYAMA LEADS
The Japanese star, winner of the 2021 Masters, birdies the 9th for his third in a row to turn in five-under-par. He leads by one.
MATSUYAMA'S FRONT NINE:
- Par
- Birdie
- Birdie
- Par
- Par
- Par
- Birdie
- Birdie
- Birdie
MATSUYAMA JOINED AT THE TOP!
Germany's Matthias Schmid has made his third birdie in four holes (and his sixth of the day) to join the lead at five-under.
MATSUYAMA TO SIX!
Hideki becomes the first man to reach six-under-par thanks to his fourth consecutive birdie at the 10th after pouring in a long-range putt.
Matthieu Pavon has just birdied the 1st - he is really embracing this. Big fist pump and the crowd are loving him.
LOW SCORING AT LE GOLF NATIONAL
Conditions are just perfect and Le Golf National is looking sensational in the Parisien sunshine.
We have 26 players under par from 51 to have completed at least one hole - which according to my maths says that over half the field are under par.
WYNDHAM CLARK UPDATE
For those following along earlier, Wyndham Clark has managed to get himself back to two-over.
The World No.5 was four-over after four holes but birdied the 9th and 10th.
EAGLE FOR MCILROY!
The World No.3 hit a stunning shot into the par-5 9th and rolled in his eagle putt perfectly from inside 10ft. He's made a huge jump up the leaderboard after being one-over thru 2.
Scheffler birdied the 9th so he is at three-under, too.
SCHMID JOINS THE LEAD AGAIN
The German is matching Hideki Matsuyama shot-for-shot and the pair are now two clear at the top. Schmid has now birdied four of his last five holes and has seven birdies in total thru 14.
MATTHIAS SCHMID IS HAVING A DAY
The World No.147, who was the low amateur at the 2021 Open, has made seven birdies in 14 holes so far at Le Golf National.
JON RAHM EAGLE
The LIV Golf star and two-time Major winner chipped in at the 3rd for an eagle at the par 5. Great start after his win last week at LIV Golf UK.
His teammate and fellow LIV Golfer David Puig is going even better at three-under after six thanks to birdies at 3, 4 and 5.
LUDVIG ABERG TO FOUR-UNDER
The World No.4, playing in the star grouping alongside Scheffler and McIlroy, has just made his fifth birdie of the day to move to within two of the lead.
MATSUYAMA COULD EASILY BE TWO CLEAR
Hideki is playing great golf today but he's missed two birdie putts inside 15ft on the last two holes. Could easily be eight-under!
NIEMANN TO FIVE-UNDER
The LIV Golf star has just birdied the par-5 14th to move within one. He has three birdies, one eagle and zero bogeys so far today.
SCHMID IN TROUBLE
The German spins his ball back off the green into the water at the difficult 15th. That's going to be at least a bogey you'd think.
The closing stretch at Le Golf National is notoriously difficult, so we can expect players to fight for pars towards the latter stages.
AMAZING SUPPORT FOR HOME STAR MATTHIEU PAVON
SCHMID DOUBLE BOGEY
The German did indeed double bogey the 15th after spinning his ball back off the green and into the water. A costly mistake that drops him two back of Hideki Matsuyama - who may be about to go to seven-under.
RYAN FOX TO FIVE-UNDER
The New Zealander is putting together a superb round here with five birdies and no bogeys thu 14.
MATSUYAMA TO SEVEN-UNDER
Another stunning iron shot left Matsuyama with a kick-in birdie at the 13th to reach seven under.
7 birdies. 6 pars. What a round he's having.
NIEMANN TO SIX
The Chilean hit a great approach into the difficult 15th and managed to roll the birdie putt in to get to six-under.
38 PLAYERS UNDER PAR
Scoring conditions remain ideal today at Le Golf National - it's a day to go low!
MCILROY DROPS BACK
The World No.3 bogeyed the 10th and 12th to fall back to one-under.
He does have the par-5 14th to come before the demanding finishing stretch. He'll hope to get in at two-under or better on what is a very low scoring first day.
ANOTHER BIRDIE FOR MATSUYAMA
He finds the par-5 14th green in two and just misses his eagle putt from 18ft for a tap-in birdie.
That's eight birdies, no bogeys in 14 holes. Some round.
BIRDIE FOR MCILROY
McIlroy's lovely approach into the par-4 13th nestled on the fringe around 10ft past the hole and he's rolled it in to get back to two-under.
MCILROY BACK TO THREE-UNDER
Birdies at 13 and 14 for the World No.3 gets him back to -3.
NIEMANN FINISHES AT FIVE-UNDER
The LIV Golfer is clubhouse leader at five-under with a 66. He bogeyed the 18th after a wayward drive.
Some round from the Chilean who made one eagle, four birdies and a solitary bogey.
SAMI VALIMAKI TO SIX-UNDER
The Finnish star rolls in his sixth birdie in 11 holes to move up to 2nd-place on his own.
GRILLO MATCHES NIEMANN'S 66 WITH STUNNING BUNKER HOLE-OUT
Argentina's Emiliano Grillo ties the clubhouse lead with a 66 after holing a bunker shot for birdie at the 18th.
He made seven birdies and two bogeys.
MATTHIAS SCHMID ON HIS ROUND:
" Conditions were great. I don't think the course is going to play much easier than it is today. I played pretty good, I must say. I hit most fairways, hit many greens, got a lot of looks. Just a couple bad swings towards the end which was really costly but that's golf. The round is 18 holes but the tournament is still long. I'm playing well. We'll see."
MCILROY CHARGING!
The four-time Major winner rolls in his third consecutive birdie at the difficult par-4 15th hole to climb to four-under-par. A superb charge after bogeys at 10 and 12.
HUGE PAR SAVE ON 17 FOR MATSUYAMA
A poor drive looked like it could cost the Japanese star a bogey at the 17th but he managed to hole from 15ft to save par. Massive save to keep himself two clear at the top.
XANDER SCHAUFFELE DOING XANDER SCHAUFFELE THINGS
The World No.2 and defending gold medallist has just put an excellent front nine on the board to turn in 31 (-5).
Five birdies, four pars and in a lovely sequence of birdie-par-birdie-par-birdie-par-birdie-par-birdie.
MATSUYAMA INTO THE 18TH
After his epic par save on 17, Hideki pulls his approach left into the greenside bunker on the final hole. Will have an up-and-down for a 63.
PUIG TO FIVE-UNDER
The LIV Golf star made five birdies in his first 11 holes, and he's just parred the 12th, to sit in T3rd now with just two men ahead of him.
VICTOR PEREZ ON 'ONCE IN A LIFETIME' FIRST TEE SHOT
"I told myself on the range, I told my caddie, James, let's be there the full ten minutes before and really soak it in all in. It's definitely a once-in-a-lifetime. I'll never hit this tee shot again, opening games in Paris and being French and having all the home support. I wanted to be there. There wasn't going to be more pressure whether I was there tore ten minutes or four minutes. So I was like, you might as well just try to be there and take it all in and enjoy the people. It was great. I managed to hit a good shot, actually."
MATSUYAMA PARS 18 FOR A 63 (-8)
SCHEFFLER TO FOUR-UNDER
The World No.1 birdies the 17th to move inside the top-10 and within four of Hideki Matsuyama's lead.
Scheffler has had plenty of chances today and is bogey-free. A hot putter and he could easily be up there with Hideki.
DISAPPOINTING FINISH FOR JASON DAY
The Australian was four-under heading down the last but found the water long of the green to end up with a double bogey. He falls to six back of the lead.
STUNNING FROM RAHM
Jon Rahm just chipped in again! This at 12 was a beauty from under the level of the green, he flopped it up and it landed perfectly before rolling into the center of the cup.
The Spaniard is back to two-under.
POOR FINISH FROM MCILROY
The World No.3 had a very long birdie putt but there's no excuses for smashing it 15ft by. It ends up in a three-putt bogey, his fourth dropped shot of the day, to post a still very good 68 (-3), which is only three back of the silver medal spot right now.
Scottie Scheffler finishes at four-under, while Ludvig Aberg matches McIlroy's 68.
SCORES FOR THE BIG TRIO:
A HUGE BIRDIE FOR RAHM
After his chip-in on 12, Rahm has just holed a monster putt on the 13th to move up to three-under.
JASON DAY ON THE NERVES OF COMPETING FOR AUSTRALIA
"This is probably the most nervous I've been wearing a set of clothes that you look down and see the colours," he said.
"The first couple holes caught me off-guard actually quite a lot. I was quite nervous standing over the first tee shot and then it took me a few holes to get over it. It's amazing, we're not playing for money this week obviously.
"We are playing for a medal and you're here for kind of playing for free. But my point is, is that like it feels totally different. This is the most I've felt nervous standing on a tee box wearing a set of clothes that I'm wearing for the first time.
"It's a good feeling because it just shows that it means a lot to me, which is good. So I'm happy about it."
RORY MCILROY ON IMPORTANCE OF GOLF IN THE OLYMPICS:
"I don't really know what I expected today but this definitely exceeded those expectations," he said.
"Yeah, I mean, from an overall maybe health of the sport and game and sort whereof it sits, where this competition sits amongst the hierarchy of the tournaments that we have, yeah, it's probably an important week."
SAMI VALIMAKI TO -7
Finland's Valimaki, who plays on the PGA Tour after graduating from the DP World Tour, has birdied the 17th to move within one of the lead. It's his eighth birdie of the day!
ANOTHER EAGLE FOR JON RAHM
A sensational fairway wood into the 14th sets up a simple right-to-lefter for Rahm and he boxes it for his secone eagle of the day.
Last week's LIV Golf UK winner moves to -5 and within three of Matsuyama's lead.
SCHAUFFELE ALSO TO SEVEN-UNDER!
A lovely birdie putt converted on 14 moves the Champion Golfer of the Year and defending gold medallist to within one of the lead.
Thru 14 holes he's had seven birdies and seven pars.
LEADER HIDEKI MATSUYAMA AFTER HIS 63:
"Today's result was good. So I'll take that as a positive," he said.
"My putts went in the cup well today. My shots went into the fairway, too. So I had a lot of chances, so I'm happy.
"I'm glad I was able to finish the day in the top spot."
NIGHTMARE FOR RAHM
The Spaniard has been brilliant today but drops two shots on the par-3 16th after hitting a ball into the water. He's back to three-under after that double.
SCORING UPDATE
We have 43 players under par today and just 12 over par.
Min Woo Lee and Camilo Villegas are in last-place at five-over.
LOVING THE OLYMPIC GEAR THIS WEEK
SCHAUFFELE IN TROUBLE ON 17
I say 'trouble' but there's every chance he'll still make par. He pulled his drive well left and has only been able to chop it up the fairway. He's left it 20 yards short of the green so faces a fairly simple up-and-down for a player of his skill - we'll find out.
UPDATE: SCHAUFFELE MADE BOGEY
He pitched it to around 6ft but just missed the right-to-lefter on the low side. First bogey of the day.
STORMS 8 MILES AWAY
Spectators have been warned to take shelter with bad weather on its way. Play continues for now.
RAHM BOUNCES BACK
A great birdie at 17 - which is the hole where he defeated Tiger Woods at the 2018 Ryder Cup - to move back up to four-under.
FITZPATRICK STRUGGLING
The Team GB star isn't having the best day today. He has just chunked his approach into the 17th after making double at 16, where he hit it into the water.
He's one-over-par and down in T48th.
LIV GOLFERS GOING WELL
There's 7 LIV Golfers in the Olympics golf tournament and most of them are putting very strong performances in today.
Here's how the LIV Golf leaderboard currently looks:
- T2: Carlos Ortiz -6
- T4: Joaquin Niemann -5
- T4: Mito Pereira -5
- T8: Jon Rahm -4
- T24: David Puig -2
- T32: Abraham Ancer -1
- T51: Adrian Meronk +2
PLAY SUSPENDED
Play has been suspended due to weather. Players are coming off the course.
PLAY TO RESUME SHORTLY
"Round 1 of the men's Olympic golf competition will resume at 17:05. Practice facilities have opened for athletes," the International Golf Federation says.
EPIC JASON DAY QUOTE:
JOAQUIN NIEMANN ON 'CRISIS' IN GOLF
After an impressive start in Paris, Joaquin Niemann says an unfair Olympic qualification criteria means "you don't have the best players" playing in the event - which he says is part of a wider "crisis" in the game.
PLAY BACK UNDERWAY!
After a 40-minute suspension of play, we are back underway at Le Golf National.
CARLOS ORTIZ DROPS BACK
A disappointing double bogey for the LIV Golfer at the par 3 16th, where he found the water off the tee. He's back down to four-under in a tie for 6th.
DOUBLE FOR MITO PEREIRA AS WELL
Ortiz's fellow LIV Golfer and Torque GC teammate Mito Pereira also found water - at the 15th - to fall back with a double bogey.
SHANE LOWRY FINISHES UP
It's a bogey on the last for the Irishman, who posts a level-par 71. That's eight back of gold, seven back of silver and just five back of the bronze medal position.
A long way to go.
SCHAUFFELE PARS THE LAST FOR A 65 - CURRENTLY 2ND
PLAY SUSPENDED AGAIN
RORY MCILROY EARLIER IN THE WEEK:
SCORING UPDATE/MY THOUGHTS
Much has been made of the scoreable conditions today and players have certainly been going low. There's 41 men under par and just 14 over par from the 60-man field.
We currently have 51 players within six strokes of the bronze medal position so it's still very wide open. What a tournament we have in store.
Golf in the Olympics is absolutely brilliant. It's been superb to see all of the world's top players supporting it this year and it's undoubtedly going to continue to grow. LA 2028 at Riviera is going to be very special.
A word on Le Golf National , too. It's great to see the world's best back there for the first time since the 2018 Ryder Cup. It might not test the players like a Pinehurst or a Troon but it's certainly a ball striker's paradise and the finishing stretch can produce big numbers.
The French Open is one of the world's oldest national Opens and it'd be great to see the PGA Tour support the DP World Tour in elevating it back to where it should be.
STILL NO UPDATE ON WHEN PLAY WILL RESUME
Hopefully we can get play finished today, there's not much left to go. The final group have just two holes remaining.
PLAY RESUMING SOON
Good news, looks like we'll get the full first round in today. Play will resume at 6.30pm local time (12.30pm ET/5.30pm BST).
PLAY NOW CONCLUDED
Everyone has now completed their first rounds after the two suspensions of play.
Hideki Matsuyama leads Xander Schauffele by two strokes, and we have 20 players within five strokes of the gold medal spot and 46 players all within six strokes of bronze.
DAY 2 UNDERWAY
Good morning and welcome to the second round at Le Golf National. The weather looks perfect this morning in Paris and we've once again got a great day's golf ahead.
The first few groups are out on the course, and Sami Valimaki (-4) looks to be dropping back after finding water on the par-3 2nd.
SCHAUFFELE, HOVLAND AND RAHM TEEING OFF
Big group heading off now. Amazing atmosphere down at the 1st tee with cries of "USA, USA, USA!" and "EUROPE, EUROPE, EUROPE!"
Loving the Ryder Cup feel.
COMMENTATOR'S CURSE
"Really comfortable tee shot for Hovland, loves to move the ball left-to-right"
Proceeds to double-cross his utility iron miles left into the water.
RAHM AND SCHAUFFELE FIND THE FAIRWAY
Good tee shots from the other two big names.
'MAYBE EVEN LOWER SCORES TODAY'
NBC's John Wood expects even lower scores today with conditions better than yesterday - if that's even possible. Thinks players can be very aggressive today with the soft greens.
We have Matsuyama leading at -8 so would imagine the leading score could be 11, 12 or 13-under come the end of the day.
NIGHTMARE START FOR HOVLAND
After finding water off the tee on the 1st, his third shot finds water, too, as it just rolls back off the edge of the green.
That means he'll now be dropping for five and be struggling for double, with potentially even triple on the cards. He double bogeyed the 18th yesterday so a very costly couple of holes.
INCREDIBLE SCENES ON THE 1ST TEE
Matthieu Pavon arrives to a hero's welcome and the crowd bursts out into a rendition of the French national anthem. Amazing.
TODAY'S OLYMPIC GOLF TEE TIMES TO COME:
ET (BST)
- 4.22am (9.22am): Shubhankar Sharma (India), Rafael Campos (Puerto Rico), Carlos Ortiz (Mexico)
- 4.33am (9.33am): Nico Echavarria (Colombia), Mito Pereira (Chile), Kris Ventura (Norway)
- 4.44am (9.44am): Fabrizio Zanotti (Paraguay), Joel Girrbach (Switzerland), Tapio Pulkkanen (Finland)
- 4.55am (9.55am): Victor Perez (France), Matti Schmid (Germany), C.T. Pan (Chinese Taipei)
- 5.06am (10.06am): Thorbjørn Olesen (Denmark), Alejandro Tosti (Argentina), Joaquin Niemann (Chile)
- 5.17am (10.17am): Emiliano Grillo (Argentina), Alex Noren (Sweden), Ryan Fox (New Zealand)
- 5.33am (10.33am): Min Woo Lee (Australia) Corey Conners (Canada), Christian Bezuidenhout (South Africa)
- 5.44am (10.44am): Wyndham Clark (USA), Hideki Matsuyama (Japan), Tommy Fleetwood (Great Britain)
- 5.55am (10.55am): Sepp Straka (Austria), Jason Day (Australia), Tom Kim (Korea)
- 6.06am (11.06am): Scottie Scheffler (USA), Rory McIlroy (Ireland), Ludvig Åberg (Sweden)
- 6.17am (11.17am): Adrien Dumont de Chassart (Belgium), Daniel Hillier (New Zealand), Guido Migliozzi (Italy)
- 6.28am (11.28am): Kiradech Aphibarnrat (Thailand), Gavin Green (Malaysia), Gaganjeet Bhullar (India)
- 6.39am (11.39am): Phachara Khongwatmai (Thailand), Abraham Ancer (Mexico), Dou Zecheng (China)
VAN ROOYEN TO -5
A birdie at the par-5 3rd for the South African who is now up to T3rd and in the bronze medal position.
HOVLAND STARTS WITH A TRIPLE
Ouch.
Two balls in the water for Hovland. He ended yesterday with a double and starts with a triple.
-3 thru 17, +2 thu 19. He is still within seven of the bronze medal spot with 53 holes left so needs to get his head down.
LIV GOLF LEADERBOARD
A strong start for the LIV Golfers yesterday, here's how they got on:
- T3: -5 Joaquin Niemann
- T6: -4 Jon Rahm
- T14: -3 Carlos Ortiz
- T21: -2 Mito Pereira
- T21: -2 David Puig
- T29: -1 Abraham Ancer
- T49: +2 Adrian Meronk
RAHM BIRDIE
The Spaniard makes a rare 2 at the par-3 2nd hole courtesy of a 29-footer to move up to T2nd.
SCHAUFFELE BOGEY
The World No.2 drops a shot at the 2nd after finding the bunker to the right.
STEPHAN JAEGER CHARGING
A great start for the German PGA Tour pro who starts par-birdie-eagle to move up to three-under.
SCHAUFFELE BOUNCES BACK
After dropping a shot at the 2nd, the defending gold medallist birdies the par-5 3rd to move back up to six-under.
Jon Rahm also birdies the 3rd and continues his move after birdieing the 2nd.
THOMAS DETRY BIRDIE
The Belgian birdies the par-4 5th to move to three-under for the day and tournament.
The scoreboard initially showed him as holing out from 163 yards but it was an error - still, a great start.
JON RAHM CHARGING
The two-time Major champion fires a rifle down the pin at the 4th and he's going to have a tap-in birdie to move to seven-under.
SCHAUFFELE MATCHES RAHM AT 4
A brilliant birdie putt from 15ft for the World No.2 gets him to seven-under, just before Rahm taps in to also move to one back of Matsuyama.
SCHAUFFELE TIES THE LEAD
The defending gold medallist puts three consecutive birdies together at 3, 4 and 5 to reach eight-under-par and tie Hideki Matsuyama's lead.
NIEMANN STARTS WITH A BIRDIE
The LIV Golf money list leader moves to six-under thanks to a birdie at the 1st.
DETRY AND JAEGER FLYING
Belgium's Thomas Detry and Germany's Stephan Jaeger both started the day at level par and they're now at five-under after just seven holes.
Scoring is low today!
MORIKAWA APPEARING ON THE LEADERBOARD
The two-time Major champion is now the third man inside the top-20 after playing his first six holes in two under, courtesy of back-to-back birdies at the 5th and 6th.
MANASSERO CLIMBING
The Italian has three birdies and eight pars thru 11 holes to move up to T6th and five-under-par. So good to see him back.
MATSUYAMA, FLEETWOOD AND CLARK UNDERWAY
Big days for all three ahead.
Matsuyama (-8): Can he extend his lead? He's already been caught but held a two-stroke lead overnight and could easily get to 12-or-13-under.
Fleetwood (-4): A strong day for Tommy could put him right into contention for a medal heading into the weekend.
Clark (+4): Has faced criticism online over his spot in the team (instead of DeChambeau) so can he find something today to help him make a weekend charge?
REMAINING TEE TIMES:
Just five groups remaining, including the huge trio of Scheffler, McIlroy and Aberg.
ET (BST)
- 5.55am (10.55am): Sepp Straka (Austria), Jason Day (Australia), Tom Kim (Korea)
- 6.06am (11.06am): Scottie Scheffler (USA), Rory McIlroy (Ireland), Ludvig Åberg (Sweden)
- 6.17am (11.17am): Adrien Dumont de Chassart (Belgium), Daniel Hillier (New Zealand), Guido Migliozzi (Italy)
- 6.28am (11.28am): Kiradech Aphibarnrat (Thailand), Gavin Green (Malaysia), Gaganjeet Bhullar (India)
- 6.39am (11.39am): Phachara Khongwatmai (Thailand), Abraham Ancer (Mexico), Dou Zecheng (China)
MATSUYAMA BACK ON TOP
The 2021 Masters champion makes a simple birdie at the 1st, finding the fairway and the green before rolling in a 20-footer. Perfect start.
Wyndham Clark also made birdie on the 1st to get back to three-over.
SCHAUFFELE CO-LEADS
Xander Schauffele makes a two-putt birdie at the par-5 9th to join Hideki Matsuyama back at the top of the leaderboard.
He is looking very good this week once again.
Jon Rahm could only manage a par so remains six-under.
THOMAS DETRY SIX-UNDER FOR THE DAY!
The Belgian has had a great year so far with a T4 at the PGA Championship and T14 at the US Open, and he's going very well at Le Golf National.
In 11 holes this morning, he has six birdies and five bogeys to climb up 38 spots on the leaderboard to T3rd.
VERY IMPRESSIVE FROM SCHAUFFELE
This is a Valhalla kind of set up where you will make birdie after birdie if you hit fairways and greens, and stay out of the rough. Schauffele is just so good at that.
From 27 holes, the World No.2 has 11 birdies and just two bogeys. He looks like he's going to win a medal this week, I'd be surprised if he doesn't.
MATSUYAMA REGAINS LEAD
Hideki becomes the first man to double digits under-par courtesy of a two-putt birdie at the par-5 3rd.
NOT FOR VERY LONG...
Schauffele rolls in his fifth birdie in ten holes to join Matsuyama at 10-under.
The two at the top are now four three of the pack, with Thomas Detry now seven-under for the day (and tournament)!
EAGLE FOR TOMMY!
Tommy Fleetwood moves to six-under thanks to an eagle at the par-5 3rd.
He holed a 47-footer. Lovely start.
INCREDIBLE ROUND FROM DETRY
The Belgian holed a stunning flop shot from below the surface of the green on the 12th for his seventh birdie in 12 holes.
He is now in the bronze medal position on his own.
TOM KIM HOLE-OUT EAGLE
The Korean plays a stunning greenside bunker shot at the 3rd and he's another man to eagle the par-5!
He moves up to six-under.
XANDER SCHAUFFELE TWO CLEAR!
Xander birdies the 11th to move to five-under for the day just as Hideki Matsuyama drops a shot at the 4th. Big move.
STUNNING EAGLE FROM RORY MCILROY
From 261 yards at the par-5 3rd, McIlroy's approach strikes the flagstick and comes to rest within 5ft.
He holes it and that's a huge move up to five-under.
FLEETWOOD'S MOVE TO -7
The Englishman made that eagle on the 3rd and followed it up with birdie at 4, where he hit it from 187 yards to six inches. Amazing birdie from the Team GB star.
FINLAND GOING VERY WELL
Finland currently has two golfers inside the top-11 here (Valimaki -6/T5 and Pulkkanen -5/T11).
Finland has yet to win a medal at Paris 2024, so the country will very much be getting behind their golfers this weekend.
STUNNER FROM FLEETWOOD
Tommy almost holed his iron shot at six and he's almost done the same at the 6th too. He'll have a tap-in birdie to move up to eight-under and into third position.
SCHAUFFELE IN TROUBLE ON 13
The leader pulled it left into the rough on 13 and has to call over an official to scrape some loose impediments away from an ants nest. He hacks it up the fairway and will need to get up-and-down for par.
MATSUYAMA TO 10-UNDER
Hideki gets back to 10-under with a birdie at the 6th.
Fleetwood also makes birdie, and Thomas Detry moves to eight-under with his eighth birdie of the day, wow!
SCHAUFFELE DROPS OUT OF THE LEAD
He's unable to get it up-and-down after laying up from the thick rough, after pulling his wedge shot into the green.
Just like that, his lead of two is back to a tie with Matsuyama.
BRILLIANT START FROM MCILROY
The World No.3 eagled 3 and he's just birdied the 5th to move up to six-under.
SLOW START FOR SCOTTIE
The World No.1 was primed to go low today but it's been a frustrating run of six pars.
Scheffler has just missed from inside 8ft at the 6th for birdie. He'll surely get on a run soon.
TOMMY FLEETWOOD!
The Englishman moves to within one of the lead courtesy of a 35-footer for birdie at the 7th!
He's five-under after just seven holes and up to nine-under.
MATSUYAMA DROPS BACK
Hideki misses from 6ft at the 7th to fall back out of the lead with his second bogey of the day.
SCHAUFFELE MOVES TO -11
After the bogey at 13, Schauffele gets it up-and-down from the sand greenside on 14 for a birdie. The stunning bunker shot stopped within 4ft for an easy birdie chance.
Great bounce back. Two clear.
UN-SCHEFFLER-LIKE
The World No.1 misses the 7th fairway way right and he only found his ball thanks to Rory McIlroy's help. His 2nd shot went about 5 yards and his third has barely got out of it.
Going to potentially make a very costly double here.
DOUBLE FOR SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER
Ouch. You don't see the World No.1 make many of those.
He has now dropped to two-under and nine back of the lead.
BIRDIE-BIRDIE FOR RAHM
The Spaniard birdies the par-5 14th and then rolls in another great putt at the difficult 15th to move up to eight-under.
JON RAHM IS CHARGING
After back-to-back birdies, the LIV Golf star hits a beauty into the par-3 16th to set up another great birdie look.
It's only 3-or-4ft, so I'm giving him that. Expect him to move to nine-under.
ANGRY GOLFER
Emiliano Grillo has just hit a poor bunker shot on the 10th and he has had a good four or five swipes of his club at the sand. The fans were not impressed.
STUNNING ROUND FROM DETRY
MATSUYAMA MOVES TO -10
Hideki is up to 2nd on his own after his fourth birdie of the day. He stuffed a wedge inside 5ft on the 10th and duly converted.
WRONG END OF THE LEADERBOARD
For those wondering, Camilo Villegas is in last-place right now by four strokes. Matthieu Pavon is in a very disappointing T58th despite the huge home support.
Viktor Hovland is +3 and T55 after that nightmare triple bogey start, while Min Woo Lee is climbing at three-under for the day for a +2 total.
Wyndham Clark is three-under for the day as well, so a respectable fightback from the World No.5
MATSUYAMA JOINS THE LEAD
Hideki makes a 2 at the 11th for a birdie-birdie start to the back nine. He re-joins the lead with Xander Schauffele, who has around 5ft on the 18th to get in at 11-under.
RORY MCILROY BIRDIE
The World No.3 birdies the par-5 9th to get back up to six-under.
MATT FITZPATRICK ON FIRE
The Englishman shot a 73 (+2) yesterday but it's a completely different day in round 2.
Fitzy is seven-under for his round and now just four back of the bronze medal spot.
SCHAUFFELE PARS 18 FOR A 66
Brilliant round from the World No.2 and defending gold medallist.
SCHEFFLER LOOKING MORE LIKE SCHEFFLER
The World No.1 has begun the back nine birdie-birdie to get back to four-under after that double bogey on the 7th.
STUNNER FROM FLEETWOOD INTO 13
The Englishman hits one his trademark sorn-off punch iron shots and it lands and stops within 5ft of the hole. He'll have that to move within one of the lead.
POOR FINISH FROM CARLOS ORTIZ
The LIV Golfer was going along very nicely at seven-under but has finished bogey, double-bogey after finding the water on the 18th.
He drops to four-under.
FLEETWOOD TO -10!
The Englishman converts his short birdie putt at the 13th to move within one of the lead. He's now six-under for the day and right in the mix for the medals.
RORY MCILROY UPDATE
For the Rory fans out there, he is going along nicely and is just one hot streak away from putting himself right in the mix.
He's five-under for the tournament and two-under for the day with an eagle, two birdies and two bogeys thru 12 holes.
XANDER SCHAUFFELE ON HIS 66:
"A little bit of everything. Five under is a good score on this property. Overall, sitting in a good spot coming into the weekend," he said.
And on which parts of his game he wishes were sharper:
"All parts of it. I'm pretty nitpicky. But like I said, it's a positioning battle coming out of that final stretch and all you're trying to do is give yourself a chance on that back nine."
FLEETWOOD JOINS THE LEAD!
Tommy reaches seven-under for the day with another birdie at the par-5 14th to tie the lead with Schauffele and Matsuyama.
DEVASTATION FOR TAPIO PULKKANEN
The Finnish star visited the water twice on the 18th and ultimately made a quintuple-bogey 9 to drop from six-under to one-under.
He was four-under for the day but ultimately signs for a 72 (+1). Ouch.
JON RAHM (4th/-9) HAPPY TO BE BACK ON WORLD STAGE
"It's good to come back to a world stage and put myself in position. The Open I was there, but I wasn't quite close enough to have a chance on Sunday. Even though I ended up top 10, it was never really a reality of winning it. Today I put myself in position, and hopefully I can keep it going on the weekend."
LUDVIG MISSILE
In Ludvig Aberg fashion, the Swede just hit a stunning high, towering fairway wood into the par-5 14th to set up a great look at eagle.
He'll have within 10ft to move to six-under.
CT Pan, meanwhile, has just holed a monster on the 18th to finish birdie-birdie and vault up the leaderboard.
SCHEFFLER LOOKING GOOD TOO
Scheffler, playing with Ludvig Aberg (and McIlroy) has just hit a similar shot to Aberg into the 14th albeit with a long iron.
He'll have that to also move up to six-under. A great response from the World No.1 to that double bogey on 7.
VICTOR PEREZ BIRDIES 18
An excellent birdie on 18 from the Frenchman, who has been sending the fans wild all day long.
He finishes birdie-birdie-birdie to get to five-under and well in position to make a run this weekend.
The home crowd are absolutely loving him, and he's their only hope for a medal in the men's competition as Matthieu Pavon is sadly T57th out of 60.
A BIT OF A DUFF FROM MCILROY
The World No.3 semi-duffs his pitch shot on the par-5 14th and it looks like a good opportunity is going to missing there. He's still five-under.
GREAT BOUNCEBACK FROM MIN WOO LEE
The Australian said he was almost embarrassed after shooting five-over yesterday to sit in last-position but he's five-under for the day and back to level.
Currently in T42nd position and definitely not fully out of it yet, especially if he can go low tomorrow.
ABERG AND SCHEFFLER BOTH MISS THEIR EAGLE PUTTS
That must make McIlroy feel a little better after he only made par, as both Scheffler and Aberg miss short-ish eagle putts on 14.
They both move to five-under.
HIDEKI MATSUYAMA CHIP-IN!
The Japanese star chips in for birdie from just off the green on the par-3 16th to move to the top of the leaderboard on his own.
TOM KIM MOVING UP
The Korean star has just birdied 13, 14 and 15 to move inside the top-five at -8.
UN-ABERG-LIKE
Ludvig Aberg has just found the water on the 15th after pushing his approach shot. Not used to seeing that from him.
He's likely going to drop back to four-under.
NIEMANN MAKES A GOOD BOGEY ON 18
The Chilean found the water on the 18th and eventually holed a 10-footer to save his bogey. He signs for a 70 (-1) to finish at six-under.
FLEETWOOD IN TIGHT AT 17
It's not a gimme but the Englishman has hit another excellent iron shot into the par-4 17th, where he'll have inside 6ft to join Matsuyama at the top.
Matsuyama up next, as they're playing together, and the leader looks disgusted with his effort but it's within 10ft...very Hideki-like!
WYNDHAM CLARK REBOUNDING
An excellent effort from Wyndham Clark, who is playing with Matsuyama (-12) and Fleetwood (-11), in making three consecutive birdies at 14, 15 and 16.
The 2023 US Open champion is now under-par for the tournament after a 75 yesterday.
Min Woo Lee is also under-par now despite his 76 yesterday. Well done boys.
MATSUYAMA TO -13
An excellent birdie from the leader, who briefly goes two clear at the top after rolling in a 10-footer on the 17th. Fleetwood will have a short one to move within one.
FLEETWOOD FROM 6FT ON 17...
It's a birdie!
It just about drops on the left side and he's now 2nd on his own and eight-under for the day.
MATSUYAMA IN TROUBLE DOWN 18
He pushed his drive up the right and only just found his ball. It's buried, and he has checked if it's embedded but I don't think it was.
He's picked it up and put it back and is also on a severe side-slope with the ball above his feet.
Going to be a tricky lay-up. There's no way he can reach the green in two on the par-4 18th.
Fleetwood, meanwhile, is in the bunker off the tee and he's also laying up.
MCILROY BIRDIE AT 16
McIlroy moves up to six-under after a brilliant birdie at the par-3 16th. He struck it to within 8ft and cosied the putt down to the bottom of the cup.
MATSUYAMA'S SECOND SHOT ON 18
He gave it an almighty swipe but it hasn't even reached the fairway. He'll take a bogey right now.
Fleetwood's lay-up from the bunker was perfect and he's going to have a sand wedge into the green from the fairway.
OH HIDEKI.
His third shot has come up short into the water.
He'll be dropping for five and hoping to get up-and-down for double.
Disaster.
SCHEFFLER IN TIGHT AT 17
Scheffler's bounce-back continues after the double bogey on 7 with a stunning iron shot into 17.
He's going to have a literal tap-in to move back to six-under.
FLEETWOOD UP NEXT
From 75 yards, he hits an absolute beauty - as that was a scary shot over the water - to leave a 10-footer to save par.
If he holes that, he's going to be the 36-hole leader I think. It's also for a bogey-free 63.
MATSUYAMA PLAYING HIS FIFTH SHOT ON 18 NOW
He takes a drop on the fairway and he's got one of those horrible little wedge shots over water.
He's hit a beauty that lands a little long and left and checks up to about 12ft.
That was a scary shot - it's the one that Tapio Pulkkanen hit into the water earlier on his way to 9. He'll have that for double bogey.
MATSUYAMA FOR DOUBLE...
He holes it. Brilliant putt down the hill with a little right-to-left.
He signs for a 68 (-3) and is 11-under after 36.
TOMMY FLEETWOOD TO LEAD ON HIS OWN...
He misses to the right. Not the best putt there.
It's a 64 (-7) for Fleetwood and we have a three-way tie at the top.
Schauffele, Fleetwood and Matsuyama all at 11-under after two rounds.
WHAT A ROUND FROM TOMMY
DISASTER FOR MCILROY
The World No.3 had to take a penalty drop on the 17th and he has fallen to a double bogey.
It drops him back down to four-under.
SENSATIONAL APPROACH INTO 18 FROM MCILROY
After his disastrous double bogey on 17 from Rory McIlroy, he has hit a beautiful mid-iron into the difficult 18th at Le Golf National.
Should have 6ft to finish with a much-needed birdie.
MCILROY BIRDIES 18
Brilliant response from the World No.3.
A very up-and-down round of 69 (-2) to reach five-under after 36-hole. He's only six back!
MIN WOO LEE ON HIS SECOND ROUND 65 (HE SHOT 76 YESTERDAY)
"Played really good. But yeah just got off to a really good start and that definitely helps. Especially at a course like this, if you start average, then it's pretty hard to come back. So yeah, just didn't give up, really. And that was kind of the motto after yesterday. Yesterday was tough but tough days of golf happen. Pat on the back for not giving up and playing good golf."
WHAT FLEETWOOD SAID AFTER HIS 64:
"It's coming. It's closer and I hit some beautiful iron shots and I think I definitely had a good sort of idea of what I was doing with the golf ball throughout the day, and especially today, I think like when I had to get up-and-down, or I had to make a par save, I did it, and when you have rounds like to today, obviously 7-under is a really good one, you have to make those as well."
RORY MCILROY LAMENTS 'TOO MANY MISTAKES'
"A few too many mistakes. Sort of similar story to yesterday. You know, making the good swings and making enough birdies and another eagle today. But yeah, just offset by a few too many mistakes over the first couple days."
MCILROY HOPING FOR FIRMER CONDITIONS
"I'd say if you would have asked me five or six years ago, I'd have said yes but I've really started to enjoy those firmer, drier conditions. So as I said, with a bit of drier weather over the next couple days, Sunday night have a little bit of bite to it."
MCILROY ON SCHEDULING:
"I think from what I've read, 2028 in L.A. is going to be much more of a headache than this one was. But maybe the world of golf looks a little different then."
On whether moving The Open:
"I don't think you can. Well, it will be the second week of Wimbledon which you can't do, either. There's so many golf tournaments and not enough weeks in the calendar. Something needs to give."
OLYMPIC GOLF TEE TIMES:
ET (BST)
- 3am (8am): Kiradech Aphibarnrat, Daniel Hillier, Camilo Villegas
- 3.11am (8.11am): Mito Pereira, Phachara Khongwatmai, Matthieu Pavon
- 3.22am (8.22am): Adrian Meronk, Gaganjeet Bhullar, Viktor Hovland
- 3.33am (8.33am): Matthias Schmid, Wyndham Clark, Gavin Green
- 3.44am (8.44am): Nick Taylor, Rafa Campos, Nico Echavarria
- 3.55am (8.55am): Yechun Yuan, Kevin Yu, Shane Lowry
- 4.11am (9.11am): Christiaan Bezuidenhout, Sepp Straka, Abraham Ancer
- 4.22am (9.22am): Emiliano Grillo, Alex Noren, Min Woo Lee
- 4.33am (9.33am): Adrien Dumont de Chassart, Joel Girrbach, Tapio Pulkkanen
- 4.44am (9.44am): Nicolai Hojgaard, Byeong Hun An, Ryan Fox
- 4.55am (9.55am): Thorbjorn Olesen, Zecheng Dou, Keita Nakajima
- 5.06am (10.06am): Shubhankar Sharma, Kristoffer Ventura, Fabrizio Zanotti
- 5.17am (10.17am): Collin Morikawa, Carlos Ortiz, Ludvig Aberg
- 5.33am (10.33am): Matteo Manassero, Sami Valimaki, David Puig
- 5.44am (10.44am): Corey Conners, Jason Day, Rory McIlroy
- 5.55am (10.55am): Matt Fitzpatrick, Victor Perez, Alejandro Tosti
- 6.06am (11.06am): Erik van Rooyen, Joaquin Niemann, Scottie Scheffler
- 6.17am (11.17am): Tom Kim, Stephan Jaeger, Guido Migliozzi
- 6.28am (11.28am): Jon Rahm, Thomas Detry, CT Pan
- 6.39am (11.39am): Xander Schauffele, Hideki Matsuyama, Tommy Fleetwood
WHAT A GREAT LEADERBOARD
GOOD MORNING ALL
Good morning all, Matt Cradock here, and I am ready to take you through the third round of play at Le Golf National, where a stacked leaderboard is present. It's moving day in Paris and, with the leaders going off in around two hours time, some of the other names on this leaderboard will be looking to make a charge on what is yet a stunning day.
Currently, a number of groups have teed off and, in the early wave, it's Ireland's Shane Lowry who has started brightly, as a birdie at the first has moved him to one-under for the day and tournament. Just now, Min Woo Lee, Alex Noren and Emiliano Grillo have teed off at the first.
CHIP IN FOR LOWRY
Lowry's hot start continues as he chips in for a birdie at the par 5 third. He's two-under for the round and tournament now, with his European Ryder Cup teammate, Sepp Straka, also making a hot start with a couple of birdies through the early stages. Although the pair are under-par, it's Germany's Matti Schmid who is the hottest player on the course, as he is three-under through five holes.
BIRDIES EVERYWHERE
A flurry of birdies have just happened in the past few minutes, with Viktor Hovland birdieing the par 4 sixth to get to two-under for his round and back to one-over for the tournament. Along with Hovland, American Wyndham Clark has recovered from an early double bogey to get back to one-over-par.
At the opening hole, which has not given away many birdies, both Joel Girrbach and Adrien Dumont de Chassart produce excellent putts to start their rounds perfectly. Now on the first tee is Japan's Keita Nakajima, China's Zecheng Dou and Denmark's Thorbjorn Olesen.
HOW TO WATCH
As mentioned, the leaders get underway at 12.39pm local time (UTC) and, via this link , you can find out how to watch the action at Le Golf National!
Back to the golf and, at the first, Olesen nearly holes his approach for an eagle! He taps in for the birdie and moves to four-under. Elsewhere, Hovland's good start continues, as he birdies the seventh to move to three-under for the day and level-par for the event, whilst Lowry makes his first bogey of the day at the fifth. He is now one-under.
RYDER CUP CAPTAIN LOVING THE ACTION
Thomas Bjorn has fond memories of Le Golf National, as he captained the European Ryder Cup side to a 17.5 - 10.5 victory here in 2018. Attending the event in Paris, it seems he is loving the action at the Olympics and, rightly so!
With play well underway on Saturday, we now have an exciting group on the first tee, as two-time Major winner, Collin Morikawa, Sweden's Ludvig Aberg and Mexico's Carlos Ortiz, get their third rounds underway in the 11.17am group. They are four-under for the tournament, seven back of the leaders
MATTI SCHMID ON A CHARGE
The German is the hottest player on the course this morning, with four birdies through his first seven holes putting him three-under for the day. Another player who has made a good start is Belgium's Adrien Dumont de Chassart (-4), who is two-under for his day after birdieing the first and third.
ANOTHER CHIP IN FOR SHANE
Lowry is notorious for having one of the best short games in the world and, at the sixth, he chips in for a second time today! That birdie moves him to two-under for the tournament.
At the first, Aberg, Morikawa and Ortiz find the green safely with their approaches and will have chances for birdies. Up first is Aberg, whose attempt comes up well short. In the case of Ortiz, his downhill attempt goes well past the hole, whilst Morikawa's attempt just grazes the right edge.
SCORING IS OUT THERE ON SATURDAY
The leaders will be watching this action closely this morning, with a number of players scoring well in the early stages on Saturday. Christiaan Bezuidenhout has made three birdies in his last four holes to move to four-under, whilst Hovland and Schmid continue their good starts.
NOW ON THE TEE, RORY McILROY
Arguably the biggest player in the tournament, Rory McIlroy starts his third round in the 11.44 group. The four-time Major winner is five-under for the event and will tee it up alongside Canada's Corey Conners and Australian Jason Day, who are both five-under.
All three will be looking to go low and, at the first, Conners finds the middle of the fairway, as does Day and McIlroy. Obviously, with this being one of the marquee groups, the crowds are deep and, with those three tee shots, it's the perfect start for the trio.
HOME HERO NOW ON THE TEE
What an atmosphere for France's Victor Perez! The home hero is introduced on the first tee to rapturous applause from the crowd. He is paired alongside Team GB's Matt Fitzpatrick and Argentina's Alejandro Tosti, with all three men finding the fairway with their tee shots.
Up ahead on the green, both McIlroy and Conners have birdied the opening hole following excellent approaches and putts, whilst Day pars the first, with his birdie putt just missing.
AN AND OLESEN MAKE GREAT STARTS
Byeong Hun An has birdied three of his first five holes, with the South Korean now five-under-par. Not to be outdone, Thorbjorn Olesen has birdied three of his first four holes to also join An at five-under.
Back at the second, McIlroy's tee shot at the par 3 barely clears the water, but the aggressive line does mean he will have a good look at birdie. Elsewhere, Schmid has turned in a five-under 31, whilst Frenchman, Perez, misses the green to the right with his approach. In regards to his playing partners, Fitzpatrick has found the back of the green, whilst Tosti puts it tight for a good look at birdie.
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