Paris, France: Hideki Matsuyama erased the heartbreak of missing out on a podium finish on home soil three years ago when he clinched the bronze medal at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.

The world number 12 posted a closing six-under-par 65 at Le Golf National to deliver Japan its first men’s golf medal of the modern age. At the Tokyo Olympiad, Matsuyama lost out in a play-off for the bronze medal.

His 17-under aggregate of 267 in Paris was two shots behind American Scottie Scheffler, who fired a course record-equalling 62 to storm up the leaderboard and clinch the gold medal.

Great Britain’s Tommy Fleetwood got up-and-down from off the green for a final-hole par that gave him a round of 66 and secured him the silver medal.

Matsuyama was in contention throughout the week. An opening 63 saw him soar to the top of the leaderboard and he shared the 36-hole lead with Fleetwood and Xander Schauffele. A third round 71 left him three strokes off the pace in joint fourth place heading into the final day.

Knowing a low score was required, Matsuyama charged out of the blocks with birdies on holes two, four, five and six to reach the turn in 32. He picked up further shots at 10 and 12 before signing off with six straight pars.

A two-time winner of the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship (AAC) and Masters Tournament champion in 2021, Matsuyama said: “I missed a medal in Tokyo, so I’m glad I got one. But I have mixed feelings because the gold medal was next to me on the podium.

“No spectators were allowed in Tokyo due to the Coronavirus pandemic, so it was sad. I really enjoyed playing here this week in front of an enthusiastic gallery.”

Meanwhile, Scheffler showed why he is the best male golfer in the world as he continued a remarkable season of dominance by winning the gold medal. The world number one fired nine birdies, including four in his last five holes, to claim victory with a 265 total.

“It’s emotional there on the podium and hearing your national anthem. It’s been a long week. It’s been a challenging week. I played some great golf today,” said Scheffler.

For Frenchman Victor Perez, Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy, Spaniard Jon Rahm and American Schauffele it was a case of what might have been.

Cheered on by the thronging galleries, Perez fired a 63 and finished fourth on 268 with McIlroy and Rahm one stroke further back in a share of fifth. McIlroy will rue a double-bogey six at 15 where his wedge approach found a watery grave while Rahm saw a four-stroke lead early on the back nine evaporate in the space of three holes.

Schauffele, winner of the gold medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, was joint leader with Rahm at the start of the day but could only manage a closing 73 to end in a tie for ninth.

Matsuyama was one of 10 AAC participants in the 60-strong field.

Of the other nine. Chinese Taipei’s CT Pan, bronze medallist in Tokyo, was joint 18th on 276 followed by Australian Min Woo Lee (tied 22nd, 277), Malaysian Gavin Green (tied 33rd, 281), New Zealand’s Ryan Fox (tied 35th, 282), Japan’s Keita Nakajima (tied 49th, 287), and Chinese Taipei’s Kevin Yu (52nd, 288).

China’s Marty Dou Zecheng was 53rd on 289 ahead of New Zealander Daniel Hillier (55th, 291) and Chinese compatriot Carl Yuan Yechun (56th, 292).