Team USA golfers in hunt behind Japan's Hideki Matsuyama

Xander Schauffele Michael Madrid-USA TODAY Sports

Team USA golf tandem in contention behind leader Hideki Matsuyama after Round 1 in Paris

By Jack Dougherty | Last updated Aug 1, 2024 12:42 PM ET

The men's golf competition at the 2024 Paris Olympics got underway on Thursday morning and Japan is already in a great position to find the podium. Hideki Matsuyama fired a bogey-free, 8-under-par 63 in the first round at Le Golf National to take a two-shot lead over the rest of the field.

Matsuyama put on a ball-striking show in his first competitive round at Le Golf National, as he hit 11-of-14 fairways and 16-of-18 greens during his stress-free Round 1. The 32-year-old was flying a bit under the radar entering the week due to his recent play, including a T66 at the Open Championship and missed cut at the Genesis Scottish Open in his last two starts. Matsuyama is a player who can flip a switch and start playing stellar golf out of nowhere, though. That's exactly what he did in Paris on Thursday.

Hideki Matsuyama is SIX-UNDER through ten holes and leading the #ParisOlympics first round.

Golf Channel and Peacock pic.twitter.com/DQZ4RJlWzh
— Golf Channel (@GolfChannel) August 1, 2024

Following closely behind Matsuyama is Open champion and defending gold medal winner Xander Schauffele, who shot a 6-under 65 to put himself in solo second place entering the second round. Schauffele had a chance to tie Matsuyama for the early lead before a sloppy bogey on the 17th hole.

Running down the remaining top of the leaderboard, Joaquin Niemann (Chile), Emiliano Grillo (Argentina) and Tom Kim (South Korea) are all tied for third place at 5-under-par. World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler is in good shape after his 4-under 67 while Rory McIlroy is in the hunt after his 3-under 68.

Schauffele and Scheffler are in the best positions to find the podium for Team USA, but Collin Morikawa (-1) could also be in the mix if he can go low on Friday. Wyndham Clark, the fourth and final member of the American team, is in second-to-last place after a dreadful, 4-over 75.

Jack Dougherty

Jack Dougherty has been writing professionally since 2015, contributing to publications such as GoPSUSports. com, Centre Daily Times, Associated Press, and Sportscasting. com

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