Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama the former Master champion who missed out in the playoff on bronze on home soil three years ago, has posted and eight under par 63.
Olympic 2024 Paris Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama grabbed an early lead in the men’s Olympic golf tournament But the Defending champion Xander Schauffele of United States was also close behind after the first round.
The weather shaped the day, with a warm morning and sunshine giving the way to the unsettled afternoon which caused two interruptions of play due to the risks of lightning which was a talking point of the Paris Games.
The 60 contenders will all play four rounds in a stroke play format.
Schauffele who won last month’s British open to claim his second major title this year, credited himself with steadying his game after the “Clanky” start.
“Its thursday so I am not sweating it too much” he told the reporters.
The Paris tournament extends golf’s short history at the games, with the sport having returned after a century and returned to the programme in Rio 2016.
