Published 2024-08-02 17.02
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PARIS. The Swedes are losing ground in Olympic golf.
Both Ludvig Åberg, 24, and Alex Norén, 42, fell back on Friday.
– Everything becomes a pancake, says Norén.
It was dream conditions during the second round at Le Golf National. Several of the big stars took advantage of that and rose to the top.
But the blue-yellow medal hopes had a darker day.
Alex Norén went three over par (now a total of −1) and raced up the leaderboard.
– I’m disappointed. The game wasn’t there. It was too bad, he says.
Nightmare ending: “Becomes a pancake”
Norén hit a ball away on the seventh hole and made double bogey. He then ended his round by missing a short putt for par.
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1 / 2Photo: Ludvig Thunman / Bildbyrån
– I was choosing between a driver and a spoon on the tee at 18, but it just turns out to be a pancake. I should have gone for par today, but I don’t get in that many putts, he says.
Norén fell to 36th place.
Åberg in the water
Ludvig Åberg also had trouble on Friday, especially on the 15th hole when the world star hit the water and was finally noted for a double bogey.
– It was a waste. That miss upsets me a little, says the world number four after his lap.
Åberg certainly got around at one under par (–4 overall), but he still lost in the medal fight and has seven strokes to reach the podium.
– It’s perfectly fine anyway. I’ll have to try to get out hot tomorrow and poke in a few more birdies. Seven strokes is not impossible.
TV viewers’ anger: “Play better”
Åberg was part of a real star ball during the first days. He played alongside Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy – but still the Swede hardly got any television time.
On social media and in Sportbladet’s live reporting, many viewers have questioned the production’s choice not to show Åberg.
– I simply have to play better. If you play well, that part usually resolves itself, says Åberg about it.
The leading trio – with Xander Schauffele, Hideki Matsuyama and Tommy Fleetwood – are on eleven under par.
“The atmosphere here answers that question”
Matsuyama would have had the sole lead had it not been for landing in the water and incurring a double bogey on the final hole.
– It’s tough when it’s windy, then things like that can happen. So I have to handle it better going forward, says a taciturn Japanese after the second Olympic round.
A lap which, like the first, was enriched with incredible crowd pressure all around the track.
– We are constantly asked why golf should be included in the Olympics. I think the atmosphere here this week answers that, says Tommy Fleetwood.
Two laps remain and the race will be decided on Sunday.
