ALL EYES ON XANDER: Schauffele primed for Olympic title defense

PARIS, France (AFP) — The attention of the world’s top golfers turns to the upcoming Paris Olympics, where they will battle it out in the third Games since the sport was added back to the schedule.

Xander Schauffele will defend his men’s title fresh from winning a second major trophy at the British Open, although reigning women’s champion Nelly Korda will be trying to reverse a drastic downturn in form at Le Golf National, the venue of the 2018 Ryder Cup on the outskirts of the French capital.

American Schauffele will start his bid for a second straight gold medal on 1 August full of confidence after finally shedding his nearly man status at golf’s biggest events by winning both the USPGA Championship and the British Open.

The 30-year-old won the biggest title of his career at the time at the Tokyo Olympics three years ago and will likely be a hard man to beat again.

He showed remarkable poise at Troon on Sunday to fire a four-under back nine and hold off the challenges of Rio Olympic champion Justin Rose and Billy Horschel to secure the Claret Jug.

“It’s a dream come true to win two majors in one year,” Schauffele said.

“It took me forever just to win one, and to have two now is something else.”

The world No. 2 struck gold in Japan by edging out Slovakia’s Rory Sabbatini by one shot.

In the women’s side, reigning champion Korda enjoyed a remarkable start to 2024, reeling off five successive victories as she lifted six titles in the early part of the season.

She is the first woman to win six LPGA Tour events in a single year since Park In-bee in 2013 and sealed her second major crown at the Chevron Championship.

But the wheels came off in spectacular fashion as she made a 10 on a par three at the US Women’s Open en route to missing the cut.

Korda then also failed to reach the weekend at both the LPGA Classic and the Women’s PGA Championship.

The 25-year-old showed signs of a return to form at the recent Evian Championship, but could only finished tied-26th.

“I’ve never been to Paris. I’ve flown through Paris, so also really excited to get to see Paris and maybe be a little bit of a tourist if I have some time,” said Korda, who won in Tokyo by a single stroke from Mone Inami and Lydia Ko, the only double medalist in the brief history of Olympic golf.

“When the week comes I know I’m going to be so excited.”

The Philippines, meanwhile, will be represented by Bianca Pagdanganan and Dottie Ardina.

The 26-year-old Pagdanganan, an Asian Games gold medalist who is enjoying her finest season in the LPGA, will be returning to the Games after finishing at the 43rd spot in Tokyo three years ago while Ardina will be making her Olympic debut after backing out in Rio de Janeiro in 2016 due to threat of Zika virus.

Philippine-born Yuka Saso also made it. However, she will be donning the colors of Japan as she decided to change her citizenship weeks after playing for the Philippines in the Tokyo Games.

The women’s competition starts on 7 August.