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

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

With the ‘Star Spangled Banner’ enjoying, Scheffler teared up, recognizing the importance of successful gold and representing the USA in doing so. Nevertheless it additionally confirmed the world that Scheffler and the world’s greatest golfers—comparatively new to the Olympics—care deeply in regards to 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 “among the finest golf tournaments” he has ever performed in.

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

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

Picture by John Walton/PA Pictures through Getty Pictures

“Once you go to a sporting occasion, you hear all people within the stands singing the Nationwide Anthem, and it’s a fairly 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 undoubtedly one I’ll bear in mind for a very long time.”

Scheffler then revealed that this was not the primary time his feelings obtained one of the best of him after a giant win.

“I bear in mind after the Masters this yr, I took a rest room break, however actually, I simply wished 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 a protracted week. It’s been a difficult week. I performed some nice golf as we speak, and I’m proud to be going dwelling with a medal. There have been plenty of gifted guys within the subject 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 influence 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 evaluate this week to the Ryder Cup.

Golf will undoubtedly proceed to play a task 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, and so they 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 received on his dwelling soil. Think about.

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