SAINT QUENTIN-EN-YVELINES, France (AP) — Scottie Scheffler was in awe at the size of the gallery when he hit the first of his 265 shots in Olympic golf, and he was in tears when he stood at the top podium with the gold medal as the American flag was raised and the anthem was played.
Scheffler wasn't alone.
Click to Gallery
Hideki Matsuyama, of Japan, pose with his bronze medal following the medal ceremony for the men's golf at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 4, 2024, at Le Golf National in Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, France. Scottie Scheffler, of the United States, won the gold medal with Tommy Fleetwood, of Britain, silver. (AP Photo/Matt York)
Xander Schauffele, of the United States,, left and Tommy Fleetwood, of Britain, hug on the 18th green after completing their final rounds of the men's golf at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 4, 2024, at Le Golf National in Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, France. Scottie Scheffler, of the United States, wins the gold medal with Tommy Fleetwood, of Britain, silver and Hideki Matsuyama, of Japan, the bronze. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
Gold medalist Scottie Scheffler, of the United States, cries as the national anthem of the US is played during the medal ceremony for men's golf at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 4, 2024, at Le Golf National in Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, France. Scottie Scheffler, of the United States, won the gold medal with Tommy Fleetwood, of Britain, silver and Hideki Matsuyama, of Japan, the bronze.(AP Photo/George Walker IV)
Gold medalist Scottie Scheffler, of the United States, centre, with Tommy Fleetwood, of Britain, silver medal, and Hideki Matsuyama, of Japan, with the bronze medal pose for the media following the medal ceremony for men's golf at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 4, 2024, at Le Golf National in Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, France. (AP Photo/Matt York)
Hideki Matsuyama, of Japan, pose with his bronze medal following the medal ceremony for the men's golf at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 4, 2024, at Le Golf National in Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, France. Scottie Scheffler, of the United States, won the gold medal with Tommy Fleetwood, of Britain, silver. (AP Photo/Matt York)
Jon Rahm, of Spain, plays a shot from the 18th fairway during the final round of the men's golf at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 4, 2024, at Le Golf National in Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, France. (AP Photo/Matt York)
Xander Schauffele, of the United States,, left and Tommy Fleetwood, of Britain, hug on the 18th green after completing their final rounds of the men's golf at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 4, 2024, at Le Golf National in Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, France. Scottie Scheffler, of the United States, wins the gold medal with Tommy Fleetwood, of Britain, silver and Hideki Matsuyama, of Japan, the bronze. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
Rory McIlroy, of Ireland, waits to putt on the 18th green during the final round of the men's golf at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 4, 2024, at Le Golf National in Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, France. (AP Photo/Matt York)
Jon Rahm, of Spain, plays off the 11th tee during the final round of the men's golf at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 4, 2024, at Le Golf National in Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, France. (AP Photo/Matt York)
Rory McIlroy, of Ireland, plays off the 11 tee during the final round of the men's golf at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 4, 2024, at Le Golf National in Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, France. (AP Photo/Matt York)
Gold medalist Scottie Scheffler, of the United States, cries as the national anthem of the US is played during the medal ceremony for men's golf at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 4, 2024, at Le Golf National in Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, France. Scottie Scheffler, of the United States, won the gold medal with Tommy Fleetwood, of Britain, silver and Hideki Matsuyama, of Japan, the bronze.(AP Photo/George Walker IV)
Gold medalist Scottie Scheffler, of the United States, centre, with Tommy Fleetwood, of Britain, silver medal, and Hideki Matsuyama, of Japan, with the bronze medal pose for the media following the medal ceremony for men's golf at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 4, 2024, at Le Golf National in Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, France. (AP Photo/Matt York)
Jason Day, a major champion who spent 51 weeks at No. 1 in the world, needed two holes before the Aussie could calm his nerves at the start. Tom Kim of South Korea was crying when he walked off the 18th green Sunday after his bid for a medal fell short, overcome by emotions he had pent up during his bid to even get to Paris.
Olympic golf offers four days for three medals, and nothing for the other 57 players.
Scheffler also received a $37,500 prize from the U.S. Olympic and Paralympics Committee, not even a drop in the bucket compared with the $28,148,692 he has earned this year.
“I still think that the Ryder Cup is the best tournament that we have in our game — pure competition — and I think this has the potential be right up there with it,” Rory McIlroy said after his late blunder cost him a medal.
“I think with how much of a (expletive) show the game of golf is right now, and you think about the two tournaments that might be the purest form of competition in our sport, we don't play for money in it,” he said. “So it speaks volumes for what's important in sports. I think every single player this week had an amazing experience.”
Jon Rahm, remarkably, felt the same way.
The former world No. 1 from Spain had a four-shot lead with seven holes to play when he squandered it with two bogeys and a messy double bogey in a span of four holes. Rahm didn't even medal. He typically runs hot for about 30 minutes after he signs his card. He found perspective amid the disappointment quickly this time.
“Two of the most meaningful weeks in my career is two events where we make no money,” said Rahm, whose signing bonus with Saudi-funded LIV Golf was said to be in the $400 million range. “I've said that a million times, and I'll say it again because the Ryder Cup and this one are up there.”
The golden glow of so many players — not just Scheffler and his amazing back nine for a 62 on Sunday to win — followed a final two hours that produced the best theater since golf returned to the Olympic program in 2016.
No sport in the Summer Games moves slower. Victor Perez of France hit the opening tee shot Thursday and it was nearly 81 hours until the medals were decided. But the payoff was a back nine that was electric, with six players chasing the gold medal.
For high drama, it rivaled the U.S. Open at Pinehurst No. 2 when Bryson DeChambeau outlasted McIlroy and Patrick Cantlay.
Rahm, McIlroy and Xander Schauffele — the defending Olympic champion and double major winner — all fumbled away chances through a five-hole stretch on the back nine. That helped pave the way for Scheffler, the No. 1 player in golf, who charged through with the lowest Sunday round of his career.
Tommy Fleetwood, who has twice won trophies at Le Golf National, was tied for the lead until he missed a 20-foot par putt on the 17th hole. Needing birdie to force a playoff, he missed the 18th green to the left. That left him a tough 100-foot pitch to get up-and-down to claim silver, and it was no small consolation when he said, “I never dreamt of being an Olympic medalist.”
“It was very, very enjoyable. It really, really was,” Fleetwood said. “I just think it was a great spectacle for golf being out there and being part of that. If you’re not going to enjoy those times, then you’re not going to get much happiness from the game of golf.”
Olympic golf sold its allotment of 30,000 tickets, and there was some question how many would actually show up. The answer was heard as much as seen. The course was packed from start to finish. One longtime European Tour rules official referred to it as “Ryder Cup-esque" — not that big or loud, but perhaps in the same postal code.
It helped being in Europe, compared with Rio de Janeiro where golf is rarely played and Tokyo that had no spectators because of the COVID-19 pandemic. But it was big momentum going forward to Los Angeles in 2028 at Riviera.
All that's lacking is countries playing as a team, and that appears likely to change. The International Golf Federation is awaiting approval on a mixed-team competition that would be played in two days between the men's and women's competition.
For now, this was another big step for golf in the Olympics. Golf had been missing from the Olympiad for 112 years — there were 74 Americans and three Canadians competing in 1904 in St. Louis. It returned in Rio with four of the top players in the world taking a pass.
That seems like a distant memory. Playing the Olympics now is a priority, especially after a show like Paris.
“It was great. That's what Olympic golf needs, for sure, it being so young," Schauffele said. “Back in the Olympics after a century-ish, this is the kind of field and kind of show the tournament needs for all the top players to feel like they want to play it.”
AP Summer Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/2024-paris-olympic-games
Hideki Matsuyama, of Japan, pose with his bronze medal following the medal ceremony for the men's golf at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 4, 2024, at Le Golf National in Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, France. Scottie Scheffler, of the United States, won the gold medal with Tommy Fleetwood, of Britain, silver. (AP Photo/Matt York)
Jon Rahm, of Spain, plays a shot from the 18th fairway during the final round of the men's golf at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 4, 2024, at Le Golf National in Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, France. (AP Photo/Matt York)
Xander Schauffele, of the United States,, left and Tommy Fleetwood, of Britain, hug on the 18th green after completing their final rounds of the men's golf at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 4, 2024, at Le Golf National in Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, France. Scottie Scheffler, of the United States, wins the gold medal with Tommy Fleetwood, of Britain, silver and Hideki Matsuyama, of Japan, the bronze. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
Rory McIlroy, of Ireland, waits to putt on the 18th green during the final round of the men's golf at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 4, 2024, at Le Golf National in Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, France. (AP Photo/Matt York)
Jon Rahm, of Spain, plays off the 11th tee during the final round of the men's golf at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 4, 2024, at Le Golf National in Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, France. (AP Photo/Matt York)
Rory McIlroy, of Ireland, plays off the 11 tee during the final round of the men's golf at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 4, 2024, at Le Golf National in Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, France. (AP Photo/Matt York)
Gold medalist Scottie Scheffler, of the United States, cries as the national anthem of the US is played during the medal ceremony for men's golf at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 4, 2024, at Le Golf National in Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, France. Scottie Scheffler, of the United States, won the gold medal with Tommy Fleetwood, of Britain, silver and Hideki Matsuyama, of Japan, the bronze.(AP Photo/George Walker IV)
Gold medalist Scottie Scheffler, of the United States, centre, with Tommy Fleetwood, of Britain, silver medal, and Hideki Matsuyama, of Japan, with the bronze medal pose for the media following the medal ceremony for men's golf at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 4, 2024, at Le Golf National in Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, France. (AP Photo/Matt York)
What's in a name change, after all?
The water bordered by the Southern United States, Mexico and Cuba will be critical to shipping lanes and vacationers whether it’s called the Gulf of Mexico, as it has been for four centuries, or the Gulf of America, as President Donald Trump ordered this week. North America’s highest mountain peak will still loom above Alaska whether it’s called Mt. Denali, as ordered by former President Barack Obama in 2015, or changed back to Mt. McKinley as Trump also decreed.
But Trump's territorial assertions, in line with his “America First” worldview, sparked a round of rethinking by mapmakers and teachers, snark on social media and sarcasm by at least one other world leader. And though Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis put the Trumpian “Gulf of America” on an official document and some other gulf-adjacent states were considering doing the same, it was not clear how many others would follow Trump's lead.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum joked that if Trump went ahead with the renaming, her country would rename North America “Mexican America.” On Tuesday, she toned it down: “For us and for the entire world it will continue to be called the Gulf of Mexico.”
Map lines are inherently political. After all, they're representations of the places that are important to human beings — and those priorities can be delicate and contentious, even more so in a globalized world.
There’s no agreed-upon scheme to name boundaries and features across the Earth.
“Denali” is the mountain's preferred name for Alaska Natives, while “McKinley" is a tribute to President William McKinley, designated in the late 19th century by a gold prospector. China sees Taiwan as its own territory, and the countries surrounding what the United States calls the South China Sea have multiple names for the same body of water.
The Persian Gulf has been widely known by that name since the 16th century, although usage of “Gulf” and “Arabian Gulf” is dominant in many countries in the Middle East. The government of Iran — formerly Persia — threatened to sue Google in 2012 over the company’s decision not to label the body of water at all on its maps. Many Arab countries don’t recognize Israel and instead call it Palestine. And in many official releases, Israel calls the occupied West Bank by its biblical name, “Judea and Samaria.”
Americans and Mexicans diverge on what to call another key body of water, the river that forms the border between Texas and the Mexican states of Chihuahua, Coahuila, Nuevo Leon and Tamaulipas. Americans call it the Rio Grande; Mexicans call it the Rio Bravo.
Trump's executive order — titled “Restoring Names That Honor American Greatness” — concludes thusly: “It is in the national interest to promote the extraordinary heritage of our Nation and ensure future generations of American citizens celebrate the legacy of our American heroes. The naming of our national treasures, including breathtaking natural wonders and historic works of art, should honor the contributions of visionary and patriotic Americans in our Nation’s rich past.”
But what to call the gulf with the 3,700-mile coastline?
“It is, I suppose, an internationally recognized sea, but (to be honest), a situation like this has never come up before so I need to confirm the appropriate convention,” said Peter Bellerby, who said he was talking over the issue with the cartographers at his London company, Bellerby & Co. Globemakers. “If, for instance, he wanted to change the Atlantic Ocean to the American Ocean, we would probably just ignore it."
As of Wednesday night, map applications for Google and Apple still called the mountain and the gulf by their old names. Spokespersons for those platforms did not immediately respond to emailed questions.
A spokesperson for National Geographic, one of the most prominent map makers in the U.S., said this week that the company does not comment on individual cases and referred questions to a statement on its web site, which reads in part that it "strives to be apolitical, to consult multiple authoritative sources, and to make independent decisions based on extensive research.” National Geographic also has a policy of including explanatory notes for place names in dispute, citing as an example a body of water between Japan and the Korean peninsula, referred to as the Sea of Japan by the Japanese and the East Sea by Koreans.
In discussion on social media, one thread noted that the Sears Tower in Chicago was renamed the Willis Tower in 2009, though it's still commonly known by its original moniker. Pennsylvania's capital, Harrisburg, renamed its Market Street to Martin Luther King Boulevard and then switched back to Market Street several years later — with loud complaints both times. In 2017, New York's Tappan Zee Bridge was renamed for the late Gov. Mario Cuomo to great controversy. The new name appears on maps, but “no one calls it that,” noted another user.
“Are we going to start teaching this as the name of the body of water?” asked one Reddit poster on Tuesday.
“I guess you can tell students that SOME PEOPLE want to rename this body of water the Gulf of America, but everyone else in the world calls it the Gulf of Mexico,” came one answer. “Cover all your bases — they know the reality-based name, but also the wannabe name as well.”
Wrote another user: “I'll call it the Gulf of America when I'm forced to call the Tappan Zee the Mario Cuomo Bridge, which is to say never.”
FILE - President Donald Trump speaks in the Roosevelt Room of the White House, Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson, File)
FILE - Peter Bellerby, the founder of Bellerby & Co. Globemakers, holds a globe at a studio in London, Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung, File)
FILE - A boat is seen on the Susitna River near Talkeetna, Alaska, on Sunday, June 13, 2021, with Denali in the background. Denali, the tallest mountain on the North American continent, is located about 60 miles northwest of Talkeetna. (AP Photo/Mark Thiessen, File)
FILE - The water in the Gulf of Mexico appears bluer than usual off of East Beach, Saturday, June 24, 2023, in Galveston, Texas. (Jill Karnicki/Houston Chronicle via AP, File)