Olympic golf has its golden moment as momentum builds from dazzling show in Paris

SAINT QUENTIN-EN-YVELINES, France (AP) — Scottie Scheffler was in awe at the size of the gallery when he hit the first of his 265 shots in Olympic golf, and he was in tears when he stood at the top podium with the gold medal as the American flag was raised and the anthem was played.

Scheffler wasn't alone.

Jason Day, a major champion who spent 51 weeks at No. 1 in the world, needed two holes before the Aussie could calm his nerves at the start. Tom Kim of South Korea was crying when he walked off the 18th green Sunday after his bid for a medal fell short, overcome by emotions he had pent up during his bid to even get to Paris.

Olympic golf offers four days for three medals, and nothing for the other 57 players.

Scheffler also received a $37,500 prize from the U.S. Olympic and Paralympics Committee, not even a drop in the bucket compared with the $28,148,692 he has earned this year.

“I still think that the Ryder Cup is the best tournament that we have in our game — pure competition — and I think this has the potential be right up there with it,” Rory McIlroy said after his late blunder cost him a medal.

“I think with how much of a (expletive) show the game of golf is right now, and you think about the two tournaments that might be the purest form of competition in our sport, we don't play for money in it,” he said. “So it speaks volumes for what's important in sports. I think every single player this week had an amazing experience.”

Jon Rahm, remarkably, felt the same way.

The former world No. 1 from Spain had a four-shot lead with seven holes to play when he squandered it with two bogeys and a messy double bogey in a span of four holes. Rahm didn't even medal. He typically runs hot for about 30 minutes after he signs his card. He found perspective amid the disappointment quickly this time.

“Two of the most meaningful weeks in my career is two events where we make no money,” said Rahm, whose signing bonus with Saudi-funded LIV Golf was said to be in the $400 million range. “I've said that a million times, and I'll say it again because the Ryder Cup and this one are up there.”

The golden glow of so many players — not just Scheffler and his amazing back nine for a 62 on Sunday to win — followed a final two hours that produced the best theater since golf returned to the Olympic program in 2016.

No sport in the Summer Games moves slower. Victor Perez of France hit the opening tee shot Thursday and it was nearly 81 hours until the medals were decided. But the payoff was a back nine that was electric, with six players chasing the gold medal.

For high drama, it rivaled the U.S. Open at Pinehurst No. 2 when Bryson DeChambeau outlasted McIlroy and Patrick Cantlay.

Rahm, McIlroy and Xander Schauffele — the defending Olympic champion and double major winner — all fumbled away chances through a five-hole stretch on the back nine. That helped pave the way for Scheffler, the No. 1 player in golf, who charged through with the lowest Sunday round of his career.

Tommy Fleetwood, who has twice won trophies at Le Golf National, was tied for the lead until he missed a 20-foot par putt on the 17th hole. Needing birdie to force a playoff, he missed the 18th green to the left. That left him a tough 100-foot pitch to get up-and-down to claim silver, and it was no small consolation when he said, “I never dreamt of being an Olympic medalist.”

“It was very, very enjoyable. It really, really was,” Fleetwood said. “I just think it was a great spectacle for golf being out there and being part of that. If you’re not going to enjoy those times, then you’re not going to get much happiness from the game of golf.”

Olympic golf sold its allotment of 30,000 tickets, and there was some question how many would actually show up. The answer was heard as much as seen. The course was packed from start to finish. One longtime European Tour rules official referred to it as “Ryder Cup-esque" — not that big or loud, but perhaps in the same postal code.

It helped being in Europe, compared with Rio de Janeiro where golf is rarely played and Tokyo that had no spectators because of the COVID-19 pandemic. But it was big momentum going forward to Los Angeles in 2028 at Riviera.

All that's lacking is countries playing as a team, and that appears likely to change. The International Golf Federation is awaiting approval on a mixed-team competition that would be played in two days between the men's and women's competition.

For now, this was another big step for golf in the Olympics. Golf had been missing from the Olympiad for 112 years — there were 74 Americans and three Canadians competing in 1904 in St. Louis. It returned in Rio with four of the top players in the world taking a pass.

That seems like a distant memory. Playing the Olympics now is a priority, especially after a show like Paris.

“It was great. That's what Olympic golf needs, for sure, it being so young," Schauffele said. “Back in the Olympics after a century-ish, this is the kind of field and kind of show the tournament needs for all the top players to feel like they want to play it.”

AP Summer Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/2024-paris-olympic-games

Hideki Matsuyama, of Japan, pose with his bronze medal following the medal ceremony for the men's golf at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 4, 2024, at Le Golf National in Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, France. Scottie Scheffler, of the United States, won the gold medal with Tommy Fleetwood, of Britain, silver. (AP Photo/Matt York)

Jon Rahm, of Spain, plays a shot from the 18th fairway during the final round of the men's golf at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 4, 2024, at Le Golf National in Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, France. (AP Photo/Matt York)

Xander Schauffele, of the United States,, left and Tommy Fleetwood, of Britain, hug on the 18th green after completing their final rounds of the men's golf at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 4, 2024, at Le Golf National in Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, France. Scottie Scheffler, of the United States, wins the gold medal with Tommy Fleetwood, of Britain, silver and Hideki Matsuyama, of Japan, the bronze. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Rory McIlroy, of Ireland, waits to putt on the 18th green during the final round of the men's golf at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 4, 2024, at Le Golf National in Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, France. (AP Photo/Matt York)

Jon Rahm, of Spain, plays off the 11th tee during the final round of the men's golf at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 4, 2024, at Le Golf National in Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, France. (AP Photo/Matt York)

Rory McIlroy, of Ireland, plays off the 11 tee during the final round of the men's golf at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 4, 2024, at Le Golf National in Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, France. (AP Photo/Matt York)

Gold medalist Scottie Scheffler, of the United States, cries as the national anthem of the US is played during the medal ceremony for men's golf at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 4, 2024, at Le Golf National in Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, France. Scottie Scheffler, of the United States, won the gold medal with Tommy Fleetwood, of Britain, silver and Hideki Matsuyama, of Japan, the bronze.(AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Gold medalist Scottie Scheffler, of the United States, centre, with Tommy Fleetwood, of Britain, silver medal, and Hideki Matsuyama, of Japan, with the bronze medal pose for the media following the medal ceremony for men's golf at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 4, 2024, at Le Golf National in Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, France. (AP Photo/Matt York)

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Lourdes Gurriel Jr. hit a tiebreaking homer in his return from the injured list as the Arizona Diamondbacks bounced back after blowing a four-run lead and beat the Milwaukee Brewers 7-4 on Friday night.

The Diamondbacks moved into sole possession of the NL’s second wild-card spot by taking a one-game lead over the New York Mets, who lost 12-2 to the Philadelphia Phillies. The Atlanta Braves, who lost 4-3 at Miami, are three games behind the Diamondbacks and two games behind the Mets.

Milwaukee already has clinched the NL Central title.

Arizona’s Ketel Marte hit his 33rd homer – setting a new career high – and also doubled and singled. William Contreras went 4 for 5 with a homer and Garrett Mitchell and Joey Ortiz also went deep for the Brewers.

Milwaukee rallied from a 4-0 deficit by homering off Arizona ace Zac Gallen (13-6) three times in a four-run fifth inning before the Diamondbacks took the lead for good in the sixth.

Gurriel led off the sixth by connecting on a 1-1 pitch from DL Hall (1-2) and hitting it over the wall in left center. Gurriel had been activated from the injured list earlier in the day after recovering from a strained left calf.

His homer started a three-run rally that culminated with Randal Grichuk drawing a bases-loaded, two-out walk from Jared Koenig. Grichuk took a 3-2 pitch low to bring home Gabriel Moreno.

Rhys Hoskins and Sal Frelick opened the bottom of the sixth with consecutive singles to bring the tying run to the plate, but Kevin Ginkel retired the next three batters to keep the score at 7-4. The Brewers got the tying run to the plate but failed to score again in the seventh.

A.J. Puk worked the ninth for his third save in six opportunities.

The Brewers had gotten back into the game in the fifth by pouncing on Gallen, who hadn’t allowed more than two homers in any of his previous 26 starts this season. He entered Friday having given up a total of two homers over his last 11 starts.

Ortiz hit a one-out drive to left-center that traveled 416 feet. After Brice Turang grounded out, Jackson Chourio beat out an infield single and Contreras followed with a 409-foot homer to center. Mitchell sent Gallen’s next pitch over the wall in left center for a game-tying, 393-foot blast.

It was the first time the Brewers had homered three times in an inning since Rowdy Tellez, Brian Anderson and Mitchell went deep against three-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer in the sixth inning of a 9-0 victory over the New York Mets on April 4, 2023. Gallen hadn’t allowed three homers in a game since a 5-3 loss to Philadelphia Phillies in Game 1 of last year’s NL Championship Series.

Gallen gave up four runs and seven hits in five innings while striking out five and walking one.

Brewers starter Colin Rea gave up three runs and five hits in four innings. He struck out four and walked one.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Gurriel was playing his first game since Sept. 1. The Diamondbacks made room for him by designating INF Luis Guillorme for assignment.

BREWERS' MOVE

The Brewers designated RHP Enoli Paredes for assignment and promoted RHP Kevin Herget from Triple-A Nashville.

UP NEXT

RHP Merrill Kelly (4-0, 4.00 ERA) pitches for the Diamondbacks and RHP Aaron Civale (7-8, 4.48) starts for the Brewers when this four-game series continues Saturday.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB

Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Colin Rea (48) throws in the first inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps)

Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Zac Gallen (23) throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers, Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps)

Milwaukee Brewers' William Contreras, right, reacts after hitting a three-run home run during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps)

Milwaukee Brewers third base Joey Ortiz (3) throws out Arizona Diamondbacks' Gabriel Moreno during the seventh inning of a baseball game Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps)

Milwaukee Brewers' Jackson Chourio, left, and Willy Adames, right, collide after Adames caught a ball hit by Arizona Diamondbacks' Jake McCarthy during the eighth inning of a baseball game Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps)

Milwaukee Brewers' William Contreras reacts after hitting a three-run home run during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps)

Milwaukee Brewers' William Contreras hits a three-run home run during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps)