. Jon Rahm: “You can’t have a mediocre day and play it safe. You’re not going to win by going -1 or -2.”

. David Puig: “I’m really happy for Jon, for his performance. For me, there aren’t 59 rivals, but only 58 because Jon is part of the team, and I hope he has a good day tomorrow and wins the gold medal.”

Only one round remains before the conclusion of the most spectacular Olympic golf tournament ever held. A serious medal contender after three rounds of improving play, Jon Rahm appears calm at a time when he needs to manage high-pressure situations, something he is accustomed to thanks to the quality of his game.

“I’m getting a little better every day, yes. It’s a course I like and where I feel comfortable, but I haven’t managed to win here or enjoy this good position I’m in now. Making birdies from 15 to 18 is a relief; it’s like stealing a stroke from the course. Today my putts were falling; the one on 17 was very good, over ten meters. It’s a putt to give me a chance tomorrow and leave the course with a smile. If the wind doesn’t pick up tomorrow, any of the players behind us could give us a scare. You can’t have a mediocre day and play it safe. You’re not going to win by shooting -1 or -2,” commented Jon Rahm.

David Puig, for his part, also felt visible satisfaction with the performance of his compatriot Jon Rahm, in the context of a personal performance that he would have liked to have been more positive.

“From tee to green I played really well, but then I couldn't read the breaks and missed a lot of birdie opportunities that would have been great. I had a lot of close calls and it was a bit frustrating. I'm left with the feeling that I played well, that I hit some good shots. On the final day, I need to be really aggressive to take as many strokes off the course as possible. Jon? I'm really happy for him, for his game. For me, there aren't 59 rivals, but only 58 because Jon is part of the team, and I hope he has a good day tomorrow and wins the gold medal.”.

Tommy Fleetwood and his good relationship with Golf National, imbued with the Olympic spirit

Tommy Fleetwood is one of the standout players in the early rounds of this men's tournament. The Briton became a joint leader after the first 36 holes and could have taken the lead were it not for an unfortunate bogey on the 18th. His 64 is his best score at Golf National in all his appearances, including the 2018 Ryder Cup—with a record of 4 wins, 1 tie, and 0 losses—and the French Open, where he is a regular participant and won in 2017. As if that weren't enough, Fleetwood, currently in third place, is delighted with the Olympic experience: “The atmosphere is fantastic. It's very different from the support we get at tournaments week after week. Here, they generate a force that encourages you to play better.”.

Hoojgaard's 9 under par puts him in contention for the title

Denmark's Nicolai Hoojgaard dazzled on the third day, becoming a serious contender for the overall victory thanks to a sensational 62, a tournament record 9 under par. His masterful performance included seven birdies and an eagle in a round that, as is typical in these situations, was flawless. His all-around performance earned him fourth place provisionally with 18 holes to play.

An Byeong Hun's first round was pure spectacle.

Korean An Byeong Hun surged to the top of the leaderboard after a spectacular front nine of 6 under par, an impressive score he continued to extend on the following holes, where he also carded two more consecutive birdies. This impressive run of birdies propelled him to the top of the leaderboard. Indeed, with 8 under par through 10 holes, it seemed An Byeong Hun was poised to shatter all records, but his exceptional performance faltered on the back nine. In the end, he finished only 5 under.

An Olympic record tied

The combined score of Japan's Hideki Matsuyama, the United States' Xander Schauffele, and Great Britain's Tommy Fleetwood at the halfway point of the Olympic tournament—131 strokes, to be precise, 11 under par—equaled the Olympic record set at the 2020 Tokyo Games by Schauffele, who went on to win the gold medal. This statistic is significant considering that the American golfer has provisionally led seven PGA Tour events after the first 36 holes of competition, winning two of them, as he did at the recent 2024 PGA Championship—a precedent worth noting, given that he is tied with Rahm with one round remaining.

Fans pack the Golf National

While the turnout was more than noticeable during the first two days of competition, the French course was packed for the third round with fans eager to witness the performances of the vast majority of the world's best players, rarely seen together in a single tournament throughout the year. Aware of this, and taking advantage of the free time afforded by the weekend, thousands of people flocked to Golf National, creating a spectacular atmosphere where the vibrant support for each country's golfers was never at odds with the respect and admiration shown to the other competitors.