Olympics: Scottie Scheffler tearing up exhibits how a lot this implies

You could possibly sense how a lot profitable an Olympic gold medal meant to Scottie Scheffler as he stood on the rostrum on Sunday.

With the ‘Star Spangled Banner’ taking part in, Scheffler teared up, recognizing the importance of profitable gold and representing the US in doing so. However it additionally confirmed the world that Scheffler and the world’s finest golfers—comparatively new to the Olympics—care deeply concerning the quadriennial competitors, a sense many prime gamers didn’t have in Rio in 2016. Seemingly, each participant known as this an “superb week,” with Rory McIlroy even calling it “the most effective golf tournaments” he has ever performed in.

As soon as this terrific week got here to an in depth, Scheffler, the perfect participant on the earth, stood on the rostrum increased than everybody else. He posted the bottom rating, profitable by one at 19-under total after capturing a 9-under 62 on Sunday, a historic closing spherical that tied the course document. However he didn’t win for himself; as an alternative, he gained for his nation, which explains why Scheffler was overcome with emotion whereas his nationwide anthem performed.

“Initially, I’m pleased with the nation I’m from. I’m proud to be American. I bought emotional the opposite evening watching the gold medal ceremony for ladies’s gymnastics. I take great satisfaction in coming over right here and representing my nation,” Scheffler stated.

Photograph by John Walton/PA Photographs through Getty Photographs

“Whenever you go to a sporting occasion, you hear all people within the stands singing the Nationwide Anthem, and it’s a reasonably particular factor to be part of. I believe that’s one thing we take great satisfaction in. It was simply very emotional being up there on stage because the flag was being raised and sitting there singing the Nationwide Anthem. Sure, that’s positively one I’ll bear in mind for a very long time.”

Scheffler then revealed that this was not the primary time his feelings bought the perfect of him after an enormous win.

“I bear in mind after the Masters this 12 months, I took a rest room break, however actually, I simply needed to be on my own for a minute. I cried fairly good after that one,” Scheffler admitted.

“It’s emotional sitting there on the rostrum and listening to your Nationwide Anthem, it truly is. It’s been an extended week. It’s been a difficult week. I performed some nice golf at this time, and I’m proud to be going house with a medal. There have been a variety of gifted guys within the area this week. These guys performed great golf, and I believe we should always all be pleased with the golf that we performed this week.”

Certainly, the 2024 Olympic Males’s Golf Competitors will go down within the historical past books as an outstanding occasion, one that may have a major affect on golf for years to return. We had the highest participant on the earth race up a stacked leaderboard and steal the gold medal away from fellow contenders Jon Rahm, Hideki Matsuyama, and Tommy Fleetwood. However we additionally had an amazing crowd that made some gamers examine this week to the Ryder Cup.

Golf will undoubtedly proceed to play a job within the Olympics lexicon, however Scheffler’s emotion additionally confirmed how a lot this occasion means to these on the prime of the game. That’s necessary as a result of the highest gamers wanted to purchase in, they usually have.

Thus, golf on the Olympics will solely proceed to develop greater and extra important, particularly when Riviera, a PGA Tour favourite, hosts this competitors subsequent time round in 2028.

So, with Scheffler tearing up like he did in France, think about what he would really feel like if he gained on his house soil. Think about.

Jack Milko is a golf workers author for SB Nation’s Taking part in Via. Make sure you take a look at @_PlayingThrough for extra golf protection. You’ll be able to observe him on Twitter @jack_milko as nicely.