2020 Olympics - Men's R3
July 29 - August 01
Kasumigaseki CC, Saitama, Japan
Round 1, Round 2, Round 4

Estimated reading time: 7 minutes

American Xander Schauffele heads into the final round of the Olympic Men’s Golf Competition at Kasumigaseki Country Club with a one shot lead over local favourite Hideki Matsuyama.

2020 Olympics - Men's R3

Schauffele held the lead overnight with Matsuyama yet to finish due to storm delays and held on to it when Matsuyama signed for a second round 64.

Schauffele produced five birdies and two bogeys for a 68 to reach 14-under while Matsuyama closed with a 67 featuring five birdies and a single bogey to move into second place.

“I think tomorrow may feel a little different,” said Schauffele. “There's a little bit more on the line than what we normally play for and you're obviously trying to represent your country to the best of your ability. So that's why I'll be on the range tonight.”

2020 Olympics - Men's R3

“Yeah, he obviously was firing on a lot of cylinders when he won the Masters,” said Schauffele who played with Matsuyama in the final two rounds of the Masters.

“I think he's maybe not as in his realm of perfection, maybe he's not hitting it as good as he would like to, but he's one back and the same can be said for him, he didn't have his best stuff potentially too and he made some nice putts to stay in it. So we sort of played -- unfortunately we fed off each other in the wrong way and we're going to be playing tomorrow as well, so hopefully we can get off to a better start.”

2020 Olympics - Men's R3

Matsuyama, who is playing in his first event since contracting Covid-19, admitted he wasn't back in full form after six weeks away from competition.

“To be honest, the endurance part of my game has been struggling a little bit, but it's held up, thankfully it's held up the last few days, so it's going to hopefully it's going to hold up tomorrow as well.

“I played with Xander in the third and fourth day together at the Masters, I'm sure Xander will come out determined to win the gold medal tomorrow, so hopefully on my end too I'm going to come out strong on the mental side.”

2020 Olympics - Men's R3

The top ten players in Saitama are all within four shots of the lead so anything could still happen on the final day.

Great Britain's Paul Casey signed for a 66 to tie for third place alongside Mexico's Carlos Ortiz (69) at 12-under. Casey will be joining Schauffele and Matsuyama in the final group on Sunday.

“We'll see what pans out as I come down the last few holes or something like that," said Casey. "But as I stand here right now I'm only thinking about one thing. This golf course is such that it's going to yield a low score from somebody every round. I think there's a load of guys out there (who can go low) - Xander with his low round yesterday, Tommy his low round today. I think if you want the gold and let's be honest that's what we're all talking about, it's what you all talk about, it's what anybody talks about.”

2020 Olympics - Men's R3

Rory McIlroy moved into a tie for fifth alongside Colombian Sebastián Muñoz (66), Chilean Mito Pereira (68) and Austrian Sepp Straka (68) at 11-under after carding a 67.

“It feels different but I wouldn't know how to describe it,” said McIlroy of the difference between competing for a trophy versus Olympic medals.

“I think just I said over there, just as the, as it gets closer and you get closer to that I guess finishing line for want of a better word that you start thinking about it a little bit more and then you think, okay, again, last week an Olympic medal, well I don't know really know what that would mean to me and now that you got a chance to do it it's like, geez, that would be pretty cool.

“There's still 18 holes and a lot can happen. I need to go play a good round of golf tomorrow and see how it all unfolds.”

2020 Olympics - Men's R3

Compatriot Shane Lowry (68) and Englishman Tommy Fleetwood (64) complete the top-10 at 10-under.

“That's the lowest round I've had for a very long time, really, and I think sort of got to take that back with me and think about that and draw on that,” said Fleetwood.

“It was nice to come down the stretch feeling like constantly giving myself chances and moving up the board. We all know what, like what places matter this week, so it's nice to actually be wherever I am within touching distance wherever I am.”

2020 Olympics - Men's R3