Corey Conners push to get into medal contention on Saturday never materialized at Le Golf National, and the Canadian will need a miracle round Sunday to get himself onto the Olympic podium.
Entering the third round tied for 13th position, Conners birdied three of his first six holes on Saturday — giving Canadian fans hopes of a moving day push from the Listowel, Ont. native — before settling for a two-under round of 69.
The 32-year-old will head to the final round at seven-under par for the week in a tie for 17th spot.
The race at the top of the leaderboard for men’s golf medals is fierce with Jon Rahm (66) and Xander Schauffele (68) tied for the lead at 14-under.
“There’s a lot bigger Spanish presence than I expected,” Rahm said of the fans. “They usually obviously wear the flag colours which are very visible from any distance and they tends to be about the loudest usually on the course, as well, no matter where I am, and it really helps out.
“It’s definitely elevated (compared) to a regular event. It might have been new in golf but it is the Olympics. I think the crowd know it is and we are all aware of what’s at stake.”
Tommy Fleetwood holds the bronze medal position heading to the final round in solo third place at 13-under.
Hideki Matsuyama (68) and Nicolai Højgaard sit tied for fourth at 11-under, three shots back of the lead. Højgaard shot a course record 62 on Saturday.
Lurking one shot further back at 10-under are World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler (67) and Rory McIlroy (66).
“I’d like to be leading. I feel like I haven’t had my best stuff the last few days but I’ve done enough to hang in there and stay in the tournament,” Scheffler said. “Around this course, you can get hot. Just look looking forward to tomorrow.”
McIlroy is embracing the Olympic experience and will be looking to add an Olympic medal to his trophy room after missing out on a bronze in a playoff three years ago in Tokyo.
“You don’t get this atmosphere at the Masters. It’s different. I think it’s a little more fun than a major. Sort of like a celebration in a way,” McIlroy said.
Canada’s Nick Taylor shot his best score of the week on Saturday, firing a three-under 68 to get back in red numbers for the week at two-under. He’s tied for 34th in the 60-man field.
Taylor has struggled of late, missing the cut in all four majors this year after winning the 2023 RBC Canadian Open and the 2024 Waste Management Phoenix Open, both in a playoff.
The Abbotsford, B.C. native has enjoyed his time in Paris and seems to agree with McIlroy that the atmosphere has been unique in Paris. Taylor hopes the excitement he’s drawn from the Olympic experience could help him going forward into the PGA Tour playoffs and a potential Presidents Cup spot in September.
“I can take kind of what this experience is like and maybe the mentality going into the week into future events,” Taylor said after his round “We probably take our job way too seriously at times, and you can get discouraged and think it’s the end of the world. We obviously live a great life and I get to play golf for a living.
“Yeah, it’s been frustrating but if I kind of have a looser attitude, try to have fun, I can personally take that going forward.”