Many literary texts throughout human history, both religious and secular, address the logical dichotomy of some will fall away while others rise to the challenge. Golf sums it up in two words: moving day. It’s not the final day; rather, it is a day of positioning, of preparation, of consideration if one has what it takes to succesfully negotiate the final steps, after the sun again rises.

Moving day at Le Golf National, for the men’s Olympic golf tournament, was sensational. Like a river, it was different from the day before, and will differ again the following round. A pack of golfers solidified in double-figures, under par. It will take something around 16 or 17 under par to claim gold. At Rio in 2016, meadl scores were -16, -14, and -13, respectively. At Japan in 2021, -18 edged out -17 for the top podium station, while six golfers played off for the bronze, after finishing at -15.

There seem to be two schools of thought, when it comes to running professional golf tournaments for the men. On the one hand, the crusty acolytes of yesteryear, for whom Old Man Par is the only god to whome they pray. In the other corner, the devotees to 4-5 under per round demonstrates excellence, and if you happen to soar like Icarus (minus the melting wax) low 60s is always on the table. Olympic golf sits squarely at the later table.

Expect a lightning round on Sunday from this flamboyance of flamingos. Before the sun again rises, let´s review the five things that I learned, on day three of the men´s Olympic golf competition.

Le Golf National gets amped for their native son on the first tee. ????

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— Golf Channel (@GolfChannel) August 3, 2024

1. The Low Baller

Nicolai Hojgaard nearly played his way into the final threesome on Sunday. He toasted LGN for seven birdies and an eagle.His 62 matched the competitive course record at LGN. Incredibly, Nico might have gone lower. He had five other birdie putts from inside 25 feet that didn’t fall. The older twin (by a few minutes) of Rasmus Hojgaard debuted internationally on the 2023 European Ryder Cup side, and is one round away from an Olympic medal. He’ll match games with Hideki Matsuyama and Rory McIlroy on Sunday, and at the very least, will have a front-row seat as two master teachers conduct class.

Walk-Off from Hojgaard: The only thing I was focusing on standing on 18th tee was I want to make a good swing. I’ve struggled a little bit on the finishing holes the last two days. So for me today, it was a huge win for me to see myself hit fairways and hit two good iron shots into the last two and then when I walked to the 18th green, foxy said to me it might be for the course record. I had it in mind when I hit the putt and thought I hit the putt correctly. Just stifled me in the end but obviously pleased with the finish.

Nicolai Hojgaard ties the Le Golf National COURSE RECORD with a Saturday 62. ???

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— Golf Channel (@GolfChannel) August 3, 2024

2. 2016 Rory vs. 2024 Rory

2016 Rory didn’t have nearly the respect for an Olympic medal that 2024 Rory does. That comes from two things: maturity and a near-miss/playoff loss at bronze in Japan in 2021. On Saturday, McIlroy posted five birdies and 13 pars. His near-misses need to embolden him on Sunday to go for broke. He will need 63 or better to have a run at the Gold medal, and it feels like he’s reached the boiling point for a great closing round in 2024. Get ready for the Rory Show on Sunday at LGN.

Walk-Off from Rory: Sort of getting a little better each and every day. The story of the first to days was the mistakes and today I went out with the mindset of trying to limit those mistakes, which I did. It was a really solid round of golf and puts me in contention for a medal tomorrow. I played the front nine very well, I shot 3-under on the front nine each day. If I can go out and play the front nine like I’ve played it, I’ll be right there … it’s amazing for the game to see all those sort the players up there. Obviously Xander who has had an incredible year; Scottie, best player in the world; you’ve got Jon Rahm, some younger players; Nicolai shooting 62 today. Yeah, it’s an amazing leaderboard and should be an exciting day tomorrow.

Rory McIlroy starts fast with a birdie on the 1st. ???

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— Golf Channel (@GolfChannel) August 3, 2024

3. The firm of Detry, Kim, and Scheffler

Tom, Tom, and Scott find themselves tied at -10 with Roars Mac. Each one has a bit of pressure on him, if certain elements matter. Detry wants to reach the potential that many forecast for Belgium’s top-rated golfer. Kim wants to avoid military service in Korea by winning a medal. Scheffler wants to ensure that he is in the conversation for golfer of the year. If a certain someone wins Olympic gold after winning the Open and the PGA, HE (and not Scottie) will be the player of the year. Of the three, Scheffler is the most likely to rise to the podium. Stay tuned.

Walk-Off from Scottie: just look looking forward to tomorrow; getting off to a good start. I’ve birdied the first hole the last two days, and I haven’t really been able to ride the momentum throughout the round. Keep trying to execute and put myself in spots and hope to see some putts go in.

Scottie Scheffler hits an exceptional approach from 177 out. ???

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— Golf Channel (@GolfChannel) August 2, 2024

4. Tommy and the Kingdom

Let’s tick off the UK golfers who failed to win a major in their careers: Westwood, Montgomerie, Donald, Hatton. This is not a list that Tommy Fleetwood wishes to continue to inhabit. He wants to join Danny Willett (Masters) and Matt Fitzpatrick (US Open) on a different list, and a gold medal gains access to that list. No tournament in 2024 (or 2023, or 2022) has had the star power of the leader board heading into Sunday at LGN. How does Fleetwood win? Zero mistakes and glide in under the radar. Fairway Jesus may need to walk on more than grass tomorrow to get it done, and he’s just the one to do so.

Walk-Off from Tommy:  Again, my swing isn’t flowing. It’s not where I would like it to be but I’ve managed it so well all week. I did the same again today, really. Didn’t really hit it in any terrible spots. One bogey, which is a great effort around here. I know there are great scores, and obviously when people play well, they will shoot good scores. I thought it was tougher today. The pins were pretty tricky. It can be frustrating at times because you know there’s good scores out there but for me, I hit good shots on 4 and 10 but other than that, I was never very close. So I never really had like loads of opportunities. It could be frustrating but I stayed very patient, stayed with it. I think, you know, at the time, I made a really good 2-putt on 13 and then an unbelievable bunker shot on 14 and I think those are important holes.

Tommy Fleetwood with an EXCEPTIONAL shot from the bunker on 14. ???

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— Golf Channel (@GolfChannel) August 3, 2024

5. Rahm and Xander

In one corner, you have the former world number one, the fellow who abandoned traditional golf for a trendy start-up. In the other, you have a two-time major winner, with perhaps the best caddy partner in the game. Betting folk from across the globe would be hard-pressed to not select one from this pair, to receive the gold medal on Sunday evening. Rahm has made just five bogeys on the week, and has played the closing holes (the albatross for the field) with confidence and finesse. Schauffele has been even more frugal when it comes to the bogey man; he has received just four visits from that spooky soul. See how fine the line is, between the two fellows tied at the top?

Nine golfers sit between minus-ten and minus-fourteen. The champion and the other two medalists will come from that selection. It should be one of the top two, but stranger things have happened. By the way, my pick for gold is Ludvig Aberg!

Walk-Off from Xander: It’s got a big-stage feel to it. Depending how the wind is; Højgaard, sort of monkey see, monkey do out here. You have really good players in this field and everyone just saw a 62. Obviously the leaders, shooting a 62, would probably get the job done, I imagine. But if you’re in that mid, ‘6, ‘7, ‘8 (66, 67, 68) range, feel like you’re going to shoot something low, you’re going to have a really good chance of getting up there and getting on that podium. See what happens out here with the world’s best. You just have to try and do what I do and leaderboard watch when I can.

Jon Rahm regains a share of the lead with a LONG birdie make on 17. ???

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— Golf Channel (@GolfChannel) August 3, 2024