XANDER SCHAUFFELE birdied three of his first five holes to build as many as a four-stroke lead and made a late birdie to hang on to win the men’s individual stroke play competition at the Tokyo Olympics yesterday.

Right when Schauffele appeared to lose his firm grip on the gold, the 27-year-old American responded with two clutch putts at the end for a 4-under 67 and a one-shot victory over Rory Sabbatini of Slovakia in a wild finish to the men’s golf competition.

One was a 6-foot birdie putt for the lead. The last one was a 4-foot par putt for the win.

“Just in shock,” Schauffele said. “I was trying so hard to just stay calm. ... But man, it was stressful. And I made that putt and it was just a huge weight lifted off my shoulders and just very relieved and happy.”

(SD-Agencies)