For stalwart fans of the DP World Tour, Le Golf National is a known commodity. For Ryder Cup-only aficionados, LGN is an “isn’t that the course with all the water at the end” sort of memory. A wee lightning delay turned into a suspension of play, leaving one-fifth of the field stranded off the course for much of the day. Victor Pérez of the host nation hit the first tee shot and the sun rose high for the first day of Olympic golf 2024. 41 of 60 competitors stood below par at nightfall, with eight under in the lead, and five over in the caboose.

What’s not to love about the Olympics? It should be a treat and a privilege to represent your country, and not everyone should be around to contend for the title. There is a sense of entitlement, both for the fans and the players, that all of the best should be there. With numerous players from non-traditional golf countries, there’s much to relish about this competition. We learned five things on day one of the men’s competition, one for each Olympic ring.

Jon Rahm chips in from the greenside rough on 12! ???

? #ParisOlympics on Golf Channel and Peacock pic.twitter.com/0pYakMlEJb

— Golf Channel (@GolfChannel) August 1, 2024

1. Hello, Hideki

We’ve all wondered if the 2021 Masters tournament was a one-off for the titan from the land of the rising sun. Matsuyama has so much game, that it seems unfathomable that a solitary major title will be his legacy. Hideki was flawless on Thursday, matching eight birdies with ten pars. His 63 has him ahead by a pair of shots. If you didn’t know, Hideki already owns one gold medal. He stood atop the podium at the 2011 World University Games in China. After round one, he has a solid chance to acquire a second medallion and make it a collection.

Deep Thoughts from Hideki: Today’s result was good. So I’ll take that as a positive. My putts went in the cup well today. My shots went into the fairway, too. So I had a lot of chances, so I’m happy.

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

2. It’s been a minute, Xander

Literally, about a minute. Not one of those trendy, forever-minutes of the post millenial generation. Xander Schauffele seems driven to keep his spot warm on the Olympic podium. The 2021 gold medal winner, fresh off a pair of major titles, nearly tracked Matsuyama down. He signed for 65 on the day, a solid, six shots under par. Schauffele was seven-deep on the 17th tee, when he tugged his shot left, into the thick stuff. He chunked a recovery within pitching distance of the green, but was unable to get up and down from twenty yards. His lone bogey relieved him of a shot, but the day was an assured success.

Deep Thoughts from Xander: I think when I look back to being on the podium, it would have been really cool with fans but it was really intimate having my dad be the only person that was there with me besides Austin.

So when you hear the anthem and you come off green and I’m able to sort of share the medal with him, it was kind of as cool as it gets for me, being something that I can deliver to him that he’s always wanted. I think for starters, just being an Olympian is something he always wanted, so that was already a huge delivery just in that sense.

OLYMPIC XANDER IS BACK. ???

Chip-in birdie to open his #ParisOlympics gold medal defense!

? Golf Channel and Peacock pic.twitter.com/awy8kDzG8Y

— Golf Channel (@GolfChannel) August 1, 2024

3. Three-Five-Three is another story

Code Break: it means three golfers at five-under par, in a tie for third place. Those lads would be Chile’s Joaquín Niemann, Korea’s Tom Kim, and Argentina’s Emiliano Grillo. Among the trio, only Kim was bogey-free on the day. Niemann had one stumble and Grillo counted two lost shots on the day. Niemann ignited his round with a 370-yard drive on the par-five third hole. His 190-yard approach settled ten feet from the flag, and he converted the putt for an eagle three. Only a wayward drive at the last kept him from six-below. Grillo’s bogeys came at the 4th and 12th holes, but his seven birdies on the day was the second-low tally for the round, behind Hideki.

Deep Thoughts from Tom Kim: (On the topic of exemption from military service for an Olympic medal) I think that’s — it doesn’t worry me at all. It’s the way our country works and if golf takes care of everything — just because it happened to him doesn’t mean it happens to other people. You can’t say that it affected him at all. There could be different things that happened. It’s not on my mind at all and I’m trying to focus on my game.

4. Olympic veterans on the day

Justin Rose won the 2016 gold medal in Rio, and was joined on the podium by Henrik Stenson and Matt Kuchar. Neither Stenson nor Kuchar qualified for their respective 2024 Olympic sides. Despite a resurgent 2024 season, Rose failed to displace Matt Fitzpatrick and Tommy Fleetwood from England’s squad. Moving to Japan and 2021, two of the three medalists have returned to compete for another metallic circle. We know what Schauffele did, and we also know that Rory Sabattini did not return for Slovakia this year. That leaves bronze medalist C.T. Pan. The man from Chinese Taipei posted a fine 69 on day one, courtesy of one eagle, three birdies, and three bogies. Despite closing with bogey at two of his final three holes, Pan can return to contention with a nice low round on Friday.

Defending Olympic bronze medalist C.T. Pan for EAGLE at the third! ?

? #ParisOlympics on Golf Channel and Peacock pic.twitter.com/eRLKEYkvo4

— Golf Channel (@GolfChannel) August 1, 2024

5. Many big names join the chase

Jon Rahm relaxes at four-under par, joined by Scottie Scheffler and Tommy “Fairway Jesus” Fleetwood. One shot behind that talented triumvirate are Ludvig Aberg and Rory McIlroy. Roars was all over the course with his game on Thursday, but was able to rise to the occasion often enough, to stay in touch with the leaders. McIlroy ripped consecutive, 280-yard shots on the ninth hole, then calmly stroked a five-feet putt for eagle, into the heart of the hole. Despite four bogeys, including a three-putt on the final green, McIlroy is within shouting distance of Hideki, with 54 holes ahead.

Deep Thoughts from Rory McIlroy: Unbelievable. It was surprising. With so many events going on spread all across the city, for people to venture out here and to watch us play, it was a really cool atmosphere to play in.

Rory McIlroy with an eagle at the ninth during round 1 at #PARIS2024 #golf pic.twitter.com/zA6RmaLhiG

— James McMahon (@mcmahon31j) August 1, 2024