Paris 2024 Olympic Games Ranking, First Round
-8 Matsuyama (Japan); -6 Schauffele (USA); -5 Niemann (Chi), Grillo (Arg), Kim (Kor)
Selected others: -4 Fleetwood (GB), Scheffler (US), Straka (Aut), Rahm (Spa); -3 McIlroy (Ireland), Aberg (Sweden); level Lowry (Ireland); +2 Fitzpatrick (United Kingdom)
Rory McIlroy is two strokes outside the medal table after shooting a 68 (three under par) in the opening round of the men’s Olympic golf tournament in Paris.
McIlroy made five birdies and an eagle, but his progress was hampered by four bogeys, including one on the 18th hole, which left him tied for 15th.
The Team Ireland golfer is five strokes behind leader Hideki Matsuyama of Japan, who made eight birdies in a bogey-free round of 63 to take the lead at Le Golf National.
Defending champion Xander Schauffele, who recently became the first player to win The Open and the US PGA Championship in the same year since McIlroy in 2014, is second, two strokes behind Matsuyama.
American Schauffele and Spaniard Jon Rahm were among the latecomers in a lap that was temporarily halted due to the threat of lightning.
Chile’s Joaquin Niemann, Argentina’s Emiliano Grillo and South Korea’s Tom Kim are tied for third place after 66 laps.
World number one Scottie Scheffler, Britain’s Tommy Fleetwood and Rahm were among the riders a stroke behind them.
McIlroy’s Irish team-mate Shane Lowry could only manage a par 71 as he made three bogeys and a drop shot on the final hole after the first lightning delay.
After making bogey on the par-three second hole, McIlroy recovered to reach the turn at three under par, after birdies on the third and fifth holes were followed by an eagle three on the ninth hole.
Bogeys on the 10th and 12th holes dropped him to one under par and although three consecutive birdies on the 13th hole moved him to four under par, his round still ended on a frustrating note as he three-putted to five under par on the final hole.
McIlroy missed out on a bronze medal in a play-off in his Olympic debut in Tokyo.
