
Céline Boutier’s Stunning 7-Under 65 Thrills Paris Crowds in Olympic Golf Opener
The Olympic women’s golf competition teed off on August 7, 2024, at the picturesque Le Golf National in Paris, France with the first round showcasing some exceptional performances. The spotlight, however, was on France’s own Céline Boutier, who delivered a stellar opening round score of 7-under 65, securing a commanding three-shot lead.
Boutier’s performance was nothing short of spectacular. She began strong with three birdies on the front nine and continued to impress with consecutive birdies shortly after the turn. A minor setback occurred on the par-4 12th when she bogeyed after finding a fairway bunker, but she quickly regained her momentum. The highlight of her round came with three consecutive birdies from holes 14 to 16, which included a remarkable chip-in at the par-3 16th. She then finished strong by parring the last two holes, rousing a great ovation from the fans gathered around the 18th green.
Significantly, Boutier’s round of 7-under 65 matched the lowest first-round score in Olympic history, a record previously reached by Ariya Jutanugarn in 2016 and Madelene Sagstrom at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. This performance follows her first major win last year at The Amundi Evian Championship, further cementing her stature in the sport.
Other notable performances were seen on the course. South Africa’s Ashleigh Buhai posted an impressive score of 4-under 68, placing her second. Buhai’s round included five birdies and one bogey, with a flawless back nine that featured birdies on the 13th and 14th holes.
World No. 2 Lilia Vu of the USA recorded a 2-under score, tying for third place alongside Switzerland’s Morgane Metraux, Mexico’s Gaby Lopez, and Colombia’s Mariajo Uribe. Vu had earlier stated that winning a gold medal would surpass her two major victories, adding extra motivation to her pursuit.
Defending gold medalist and World No. 1 Nelly Korda struggled initially but managed to finish with an even-par 72. After bogeying three of her first seven holes, Korda’s recovery demonstrated her resilience and determination.
Team GB’s Georgia Hall and Charley Hull had contrasting fortunes. Hall ended her round at 2-over 74, tying for 30th, with plenty of ground to cover in the remaining rounds. Conversely, Hull, who finished with a disappointing 9-over 81, found herself in 58th place out of 60. Her round was marred by an opening double bogey, and she failed to record any birdies, placing her 16 shots behind the leader and effectively out of medal contention.
The opening round at Le Golf National has set the stage for an enthralling competition. With Boutier leading by example and other strong contenders in tow, the upcoming rounds promise high tensions and thrilling golf. As the players head into the next stages of the tournament, the eyes of the golfing world will remain firmly fixed on Paris, anticipating who will ultimately emerge victorious.
For all the lives scores from the Olympic women’s golf competition, click here.