Going for gold: Rahm tied for lead entering final round of the Olympics

Jon Rahm is officially back in form – and now he’s 18 holes away from an Olympic gold medal.

The Spanish star and Legion XIII captain shot a second-consecutive 5-under 66 in Saturday’s third round of the men’s Olympic golf competition, leaving him at 14 under and tied for the lead through 54 holes at Le Golf National outside of Paris. 

The 29-year-old Rahm entered the week fresh off his victory at LIV Golf UK by JCB, his first individual title since joining LIV Golf in December. Since returning from a foot infection that forced him to withdraw from LIV Golf Houston and prevented him from playing the U.S. Open, Rahm finished T3 at LIV Golf Nashville, T10 at LIV Golf Andalucía and T7 at The Open prior to his win last week.

Rahm said after Saturday’s round that he hasn’t felt this comfortable on a golf course since this same time last year. Although he’s finished inside the top 10 in each of the 10 LIV Golf tournaments that he’s completed, the UK victory was his first of any kind since winning the 2023 Masters.

“I've been playing good all year, but I haven't been able to give myself the best chances,” Rahm said. “For this last month, to be playing as good as I have, and slowly get better; the win last week, and give myself an opportunity this week, as well, is very, very gratifying. 

“It's nice to see things going so well for the last month, and after having won to be in this position again so quickly.”

Rahm joins defending Olympic gold medalist Xander Schauffele of the USA at 14 under. Great Britain’s Tommy Fleetwood is in solo third, one shot back, and will join Rahm and Schauffele in the final threesome for Sunday’s decisive round that determines the gold, silver and bronze medalists. Their tee time is 12:39 p.m. local (6:39 a.m. ET).

“The leaderboard is amazing,” Fleetwood said. “It’s like a leaderboard that you would expect at the Olympics and probably what the sport deserves.”

“Everyone is shooting for the top position,” added Schauffele. “Unlike every tournament we play, there is a reward for the top three, which, money aside, I would say, normal events, even when you finish second or third, you don't feel great about it. 

“But if you're able to podium, it's always special.”

Rahm had seven birdies and two bogeys in Saturday’s round. His ball-striking was again superb, as he hit 12 of 14 fairways and missed just one green in regulation. He was the category co-leader in both categories in the third round; overall, he leads the field in those two categories, hitting 81% of his fairways and 87% of greens in regulation.

His putter is the only thing preventing him from owning a commanding lead entering Sunday. Both of his third-round bogeys were due to three-putts, and he also missed a short eagle putt at the par-5 14th after a brilliant approach from 241 yards.

He bounced back with a lengthy birdie putt at the par-4 17th – the third most-difficult hole on the course this week – to reclaim a share of the lead.

Rahm, whose last visit to Le Golf National came at the 2018 Ryder Cup when he beat Tiger Woods in Singles, has received tremendous support from the Spanish golf fans in the gallery.

“They are very passionate people towards their country,” Rahm said. “They usually travel very well for big sporting events, and obviously a lot of them came to the Olympics to watch whatever they wanted to watch. Many of them have decided to come here, as well, right.

“There's a lot bigger Spanish presence than I expected. They usually obviously wear the flag colors, which are very visible from any distance, and they tend to be about the loudest usually on the course, as well, no matter where I am. It really helps out.

“But I must say, the rest of the crowd has been fantastic as well. It's been an enjoyable week. The reception we've had on the first tee has been fantastic.”

Of the six other LIV Golf players competing this week, Chile’s Joaquin Niemann (Torque GC) has an outside shot of a medal. After a 3-under 68 Saturday, Niemann is tied for 10th and just five shots off the lead. Winning a gold medal would be huge for Niemann, since the victory carries exemptions for all four majors in 2025.

Mexico’s Carlos Ortiz (Torque) and Spain’s David Puig (Fireballs GC) are tied for 23rd at 5 under. Mexico’s Abraham Ancer (Fireballs) is tied for 38th at 1 under. Poland’s Adrian Meronk (Cleeks GC) is tied for 50th at 3 over and Chile’s Mito Pereira is tied for 54th at 6 over.

OLYMPICS, ROUND 3 RESULTS

ROUND 4 TEE TIMES

9:11 am (local) | 3:11 am (EDT) - Mito Pereira

9:33 am (local) | 3:33 am (EDT) - Adrian Meronk

10:11 am (local) | 4:11 am (EDT) - Abraham Ancer

10:55 am (local) | 4:55 am (EDT) - David Puig

11:06 am (local) | 5:06 am (EDT) - Carlos Ortiz

12:06 pm (local) | 6:06 am (EDT) - Joaquin Niemann

12:39 pm (local) | 6:39 am (EDT) - Jon Rahm