Scottie Scheffler pumps his fist during the final round of the Olympics at Le Golf National. Getty Images SAINT-QUENTIN-EN-YVELINES, France — Anyone who set foot at Le Golf National Sunday knows at least the tune now, if not all the lyrics. “La Marseillaise,” France’s 232-year-old national anthem became the song of the summer in these parts, covering the final few hours of the men’s Olympic golf competition.
And how fitting a hymn for what became an epic final found. “Arise, children of the Fatherland,” goes the opening line, “the day of glory has arrived!” Or “ Allons, enfants de la Patrie, Le jour de gloire est arrivé !” as fans heard on repeat from thousands of Victor Perez ‘s newest supporters. The 31-year-old from a small town in Southern France hit the opening tee shot of these Games, way back on Thursday morning, which for him must feel like a month ago.
No one has been busier, finishing each day posted up above the 18th green like a famous book author, a line of 50-plus inching closer for autographs and photos. On Sunday morning, Perez was five shots out of a medal position and warned his playing partners, “Just an FYI guys, it might get a little loud out there.” He didn’t warn them that he was going to go nuclear on the back nine, with a birdie-birdie-eagle-birdie-birdie stretch to reach 16 under, one shot outside the podium.
That’s when the “La Marseillaise” reached a fever pitch. Christiaan Bezuidenhout, a South African and one.