[Source: Reuters]

Defending champion Xander Schauffele of the United States remained top of the men’s Olympic golf leaderboard at 14-under par after the penultimate round, sharing first place with Spain’s Jon Rahm.

Britain’s Tommy Fleetwood, who held the overnight lead with Schauffele and Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama, stayed in the medal hunt one shot behind the leaders in third place before Sunday’s final round at Le Golf National near the French capital.

The 60-strong field in the Olympic golf competition will be reduced by one on Sunday after Britain’s Matt Fitzpatrick retired injured.

Rahm improved from his overnight fourth position by hitting his second straight five-under par round of 66.

The 2023 Masters champion, who plays on the Saudi-backed LIV tour, referenced a good performance at the British Open followed by a win at LIV’s British event in July.

“For this last month, to be playing as good as I have … and give myself an opportunity this week as well, is very, very gratifying,” he told reporters after his round.

Like earlier in the week, Schauffele credited himself with steadying his game when needed to make up for some loose shots, notably with an eagle on the par-five 14th.

Fleetwood called Saturday the hardest round so far, citing the wind and the layout of the pins on the greens.

The 18th hole again proved a tough test with its narrow fairway and water obstacle, with Schauffele and Fleetwood relieved to save par there, raising the prospect of a tense finale on Sunday.

Matsuyama, who narrowly missing bronze on home soil three years ago, fell slightly off the lead to end the day 11 under.

He shared fourth place with Denmark’s Nicolai Hojgaard, who sprung the surprise of the day by equalling the course record with a nine-under-par round of 62.

U.S. world number one Scottie Scheffler was a further stroke back at 10 under, tied-sixth in a group also including world number three Rory McIlroy of Ireland.

“It’s like a leaderboard that you’d expect at the Olympics and probably what the sport deserves, if you like, and happy to be a part of it,” Fleetwood said.

For France, Matthieu Pavon endured more misery, culminating in a triple bogey on the 18th that left him in last position at 10 over. But Victor Perez kept home hopes alive in joint-13th place at eight under.