GUYANCOURT: “Schauffele Leads Despite Ant Encounter”, Xander Schauffele held the top spot on the leaderboard in the men’s golf competition, maintaining his bid for a second consecutive Olympic gold. Despite an unexpected interruption involving an anthill in the rough, Schauffele navigated the challenge and secured an early clubhouse lead on the second day of play.
Schauffele fired a five-under-par 66 in his second round to reach 11 under, matching the overnight lead held by Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama, who was also at 11 under after 15 holes.
Overnight storm showers left the course soft, creating ideal conditions for scoring and leading to a surge of birdies. Britain’s Tommy Fleetwood capitalized on the favorable conditions, joining Schauffele and Matsuyama at 11 under par by the 15th hole. The softened greens and lush fairways played a significant role in the impressive performances of these top contenders.
In-form Schauffele, fresh off his British Open victory last month which marked his second major title of the year, continued to excel despite a few wayward shots. His resilience and steady play allowed him to keep his score progressing smoothly, maintaining his position at the top of the leaderboard.
“If you do hit a bad shot it’s easier to accept it because you know you’re playing really good golf and you can make it up somewhere else,” he told reporters after his round.
Hitting the rough along the 13th fairway, he discovered his ball was lying on an anthill and sought advice from tournament officials before hacking his way on towards a bogey.
Fleetwood, who started the day on four under, hit an eagle and five birdies after 15 holes to join the Schauffele and Matsuyama on 11 under.
