Jon Rahm and David Puig have passed with flying colors their Olympic debut at the Golf National in Paris, an amalgam of sensations finally reflected in a simple record with good connotations: 4 under par for Jon Rahm and 2 under par for David Puig, placed sixth and twenty-first with everything still to be decided.
“I am satisfied with the debut” was the phrase curiously repeated by the two Spaniards in a lapse of time deferred by three quarters of an hour, when each concluded his round.
The Spanish representatives experienced on the first day, like the best, the happiness of spurts of play full of success and the occasional disappointment of errors that dwarfed more than commendable overall performances.
David Puig became for a good part of the round the most outstanding Spanish standard bearer, taking advantage of three consecutive birdies in the first part of the round that took him to the top of the leaderboard. One more hit right in the middle of his round and another one on the 11th hole inscribed on his scorecard a more than exciting 5 under par.
Packed, with the lead within reach, permanently embraced by a Hideki Matsuyama oblivious to failures, David Puig, with only 22 years of age and a meridian self-confidence, generated maximum expectations that lost ground, however, thanks to three bogeys in his final stretch, two of them in the last two holes due to untimely three putts to hole that generated bittersweet sensations where before everything was pure sugar.
Jon Rahm, for his part, played the role of squire for much of the round before taking over the role of commander in chief. The Basque golfer provoked the explosion of his followers when on the 3rd hole he made a spectacular eagle on his card, which, however, was left without effect by two consecutive bogeys on the 7th and 8th holes that returned the Spaniard to the tee.
The courage and quality that characterizes him, however, came out in spurts, as in a volcanic eruption. The best Jon Rahm brought ecstasy to the thousands of spectators who came to witness the first day with actions not only good, but wrapped in maximum spectacle. Two birdies and an eagle in a row -the latter by means of an incredible unlevel shot from off the green- turned the tournament upside down with four holes to go.
The streak, however, came to a screeching halt at the most inopportune moment, a ball in the water on the par 3 16th hole that cost him a double bogey, a prelude to the roller coaster ride that the final stretch of the round became due to a storm.
The game, momentarily suspended on two occasions, cut short the possible continuity of another birdie to add to Jon Rahm’s tally on the 17th hole. “The suspension caught me at the worst moment, when I was about to leave the 18th, one of the tense places on the course,” acknowledged Jon Rahm, who could not help but be pleased to have completed his Olympic debut with flying colors.
The top of the leaderboard is his goal, which was first of all taken by someone who had no room for error and who was at ease for 18 holes. Undoubtedly protected by Amaterasu, the powerful goddess of the Sun of Japan, Hideki Matsuyama starred in a real military march, birdie after birdie, up to eight in total, to become the undisputed leader of the first day, but with a whole world ahead.
After this spectacular start to the tournament, it is true that the Olympic Games are not yet considered a ‘major’ in the world of golf, but it has only taken two Olympic events for the third one to be awarded that distinction by the crowds in the first round. And, as seen on the fairways and greens of the Golf National, with all the participants fighting tooth and nail for the maximum objective, it seems clear that winning in Paris, for the golfer who achieves it, will be worth more than a mass.
AROUND THE GREEN AND IN FRONT OF THE MICROPHONE
Jon Rahm and David Puig: “We are happy, it is a good debut and we can improve”.
Both Jon Rahm and David Puig expressed their satisfaction for a day with more lights than shadows.
– Well, I’m satisfied, very satisfied, it’s been a good day, a good result,” said Jon Rahm, “I’m very satisfied, it’s been a good day, a good result.
– I think I’m improving and growing little by little as a player,” admits David Puig.
Jon Rahm and David Puig, separated by almost an hour on the occasion of the conclusion of their respective days, could not suppress their satisfaction for their respective Olympic debuts. Even knowing, by the usual ambition that characterizes them, that the result could have been better, especially David Puig, weighed down by a discreet end that partially cut many previous positive actions.
“In the end, finishing under par is a positive result but a little disappointed by the end I had. I’ll keep the good things, I hit the ball well and made good birdies that always give confidence,” acknowledged the Barcelona golfer after his first 18 holes, who says he believes he is improving and growing little by little as a player in a day “that I consider positive”.
Almost an hour later, after a storm, it was Jon Rahm who repeated the meaning of those words. “Uff, how it sounds that Olympic debut … Well I am satisfied, very satisfied, it has been a good day, a good result. I have not been as comfortable as I would have liked, but I have saved very complicated situations with very good shots and a pity the shot into the water on the 16th, my fault”, the Spanish golfer summarized with satisfaction.
“One of the things that has surprised me the most is the support of the public, on hole 1 and throughout the course. I thought that the presence of Xander Schauffele, the reigning champion, was going to monopolize everything, but I was very grateful for the affection they have given me at all times,” said Jon Rahm.
The honor of opening the Olympic competition
There are many players making their debut in these Olympic Games, among them Jon Rahm and David Puig. Each of them will keep forever in their memory that first shot from the tee of hole 1 of the Golf National as part of their personal anecdotes. However, one of them has acquired an additional honor, to be the protagonist of the first shot of the men’s Olympic competition in Paris 2024. This is the Frenchman Victor Perez, who had the privilege of hitting the tee shot of the entire tournament at 09:00 hours.
Great TV production from the tee of hole 1
The sport of golf is characterized by a plasticity and beauty
that makes it ideal for television broadcasts. The monitoring of the game by the official channel throughout the 18 holes is spectacular, capturing all the details of the trajectory of the ball and the gestures generated by the players depending on the result of their shots. Eurosport and RTVE offer extensive coverage of the Olympic golf tournament in Spain.
Very large attendance at Golf National
From early in the morning, significantly before the competition started, long streams of people came by public transport or walking from the parking lots to not miss the smallest detail of the opening day. The love of the sport of golf is deeply rooted in France since the 2018 Ryder Cup was held precisely in the facilities of the Golf National, which has hosted thousands of people eager to witness the actions of the best golfers in the world in this first round of competition. Apart from the French, the course welcomed thousands of people of all nationalities who gave it a very special color.
Spaniards in vibrant red
Jon Rahm and David Puig wore the red shirt on this first day, a slogan that, as both announced in the press conference prior to the start of the tournament, they will use again on the last day. The Spanish red made thousands of spectators vibrate strongly throughout a spectacular first round. Jon Rahm was surprised by the effusiveness and affection when he was received with a huge ovation on the first tee, a reaction that was repeated many times along the course crowded with spectators.
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Water everywhere
The Golf National is characterized, among other things, by the existence of large and numerous lakes that make water strategically present on many holes, which makes the players’ actions difficult. Many of them ended up interacting with the wet element to their misfortune even though they are perfectly aware of the dangers it entails on certain holes.
Water is everywhere, as is evident from the fact that its presence is prominent on holes 1, 2, 3, 9, 10, 11, 13, 15, 16 and 18.
Special mention for that final part of the course, some holes that constitute a natural amphitheater under the main grandstand of the 18th green, where for sure spectacular competition finishes will be seen… with balls into the water as a destination. It should also be noted that, at this time of the year, the lakes of the Golf National are full of some of the largest marquees in the world.
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Olympic Golf Key Dates
August 1-4: men’s golf competition
August 5: Matches and tee times announced for women’s golf competition
5 August: 16:00 a.m. – Press conference with Carlota Ciganda and Azahara Muñoz at the Golf National Press Center.
August 7-10: Women’s Golf Competition
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