Paris 2024: Rory McIlroy falls short of medal places despite surge on back nine

Rory McIlroy fell short of clinching an Olympic medal despite a stirring surge at the start of the back nine that briefly had him in a share of third at Le Golf National.

The world number three, representing Ireland for the second time at an Olympics doubled bogeyed the 15th to halt his momentum and he ultimately had to settle for a tie for fifth with Spain's Jon Rahm on 15 under.

After his round, McIlroy spoke to RTÉ Sport's Dave Kelly and confirmed that he knew the gold medal was within reach on that back nine. "I got on that run on the back nine and I thought any medal was possible then," Mcilroy said.

"When I turned I was six behind, I was 14-under-par after 11 and Jon Rahm had got to 20 so I didn't really think I had a chance at gold and then everything sort of started to happen pretty quickly then.

"I played good on the way in. That one wedge shot on 15, honestly, I hit the shot that I wanted to hit, it just didn't get it up in the air enough to have the wind carry it that extra two or three yards onto the green."

Meanwhile, Shane Lowry carded a level par final round to finish just outside the top 25.

Ultimately gold went to world number one Scottie Scheffler after the American birdied six of his final nine holes to shoot 62 and reach 19 under, pipping Great Britain's Tommy Fleetwood by a single stroke in the process.

Japan's Hideki Matsuyama took bronze one shot further back on 17 under.

McIlroy had hauled himself within striking distance ahead of Sunday's final round, sitting on 10 under after a bogey-free 66 on Saturday and was lurking with intent four shots off the overnight lead jointly held by fellow major winners Rahm and reigning Olympic champion Xander Schauffele of the United States, the latter of whom would fall