Rory McIlroy is playing in the Olympics for the second time. Thursday at Le Golf National felt like his first real Olympic experience.
Thousands of fans packed behind the first tee started chanting his name when they saw him coming. He walked past Olympic swimming legend Michael Phelps and then saw the fairway lined with spectators stretching towards the second hole.
“It was unbelievable. It was surprising,” McIlroy said after shooting a 3-under 68. “With so many events happening all over the city, it was really cool that people came out here to watch us play. I thought it might be quieter at first, but it was awesome.”
This was a big change from his Olympic debut in Tokyo, where no fans were allowed because of COVID-19.
“Tokyo was a ghost town,” he said. “The atmosphere here is much more energetic than I expected, which is great.”
Le Golf National is about 45 minutes outside Paris. Officials from the International Golf Federation have said that all 30,000 tickets for the week have been sold.
They had predicted around 20,000 fans, which some doubted because golf returned to the Olympics only in 2016 and is still considered less important compared to the four major championships each year.
By noon, the crowd was nearing 20,000, similar to some major PGA Tour events. Flags were waving, cheers were in multiple languages, and players wore team uniforms even though it’s an individual event.
“The first few holes surprised me a lot,” said Jason Day of Australia, a former world No. 1 and major champion. “I was quite nervous on the first tee shot and it took a few holes to get used to it. It’s amazing.”
“We’re not playing for money this week. We are playing for a medal and you’re here playing for free,” he said. “My point is that it feels completely different. This is the most nervous I’ve felt standing on a tee box wearing a set of clothes that I’m wearing for the first time.”
Victor Perez of France had a special experience as he was chosen to hit the opening tee shot.
“Vic-TOR! Vic-TOR!” was the chant he heard as he walked across the bridge towards the tee. Behind him, dozens of French flags waved, and cheers of “Allez, Victor!” filled the air. He pumped his right fist in the air a few times before making his drive.
Perez first played at Le Golf National as a 12-year-old in a junior tournament. Now, twenty years later, he is playing in the Olympics before the largest crowd at this site since the Ryder Cup in 2018.
“I’ll never hit this tee shot again, opening games in Paris and being French and having all the home support,” Perez said.
Matthieu Pavon, the other French player, felt the excitement even more. He won his first PGA Tour title in January at Torrey Pines in San Diego, which had large crowds during the West Coast Swing. But that was nothing compared to the scene on Thursday.
Players walk across a bridge before heading to the first tee, and Pavon was welcomed by fans singing the French national anthem.
“That was a crazy moment I wasn’t ready for. At that moment, it was too overwhelming with so many emotions and people screaming just your name,” he said.
“It was a tough day because of all the emotions — every shot, every tee shot, every putt, everyone is cheering for you, wanting you to do well. So managing all of this is hard. It takes a lot of energy, and I’m pretty happy with how I did today.”
He was asked if he felt overwhelmed standing on the first tee. “Completely,” Pavon said. “I think it’s normal, isn’t it?”
Tommy Fleetwood, who won the French Open on this course and played well in the Ryder Cup in 2018, felt a lot of support from being in Europe. The same goes for Shane Lowry of Ireland.
“I was expecting a bit, but the cheer on the first tee was pretty cool, and it felt like home,” Lowry said. “I got goosebumps and hit a really bad tee shot. But I’m not blaming them. It was my fault.”
“Being out there today shows how big this tournament really is.”
