Only last season, another world record was set. The Slovakian golfer, who was the runner-up of the 2007 Masters, carded 61 at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics. To date, that is the lowest recorded score in a single round at the Olympics. Rory Sabbatini set the record on August 1, 2021, at the Kasumigaseki Country Club in Kawagoe, Saitama, Japan. Although Sabbatini shot a birdie for the 18th hole on his final round for the 61, he secured only the silver medal.

Sabbatini was South African by birth; however, he represented Slovakia after he received citizenship through his spouse. His spouse, Martina Stofanikova, has also caddied for him before. The golfer later revealed what representing Slovakia meant to him. He said, “It’s been such a prideful moment to be up there to represent Slovakia and to see the flag raised. Words really cannot express it.”The 48-year-old golfer further added how grateful he had been to receive such an opportunity: “So it’s just been a fantastic experience all around for the entire Olympics, and I’m just very thankful.”

3. A rare 7-way playoff

The 2021 Tokyo Olympics witnessed yet another shocking moment in not only Olympic history but in the entire history of golf. Not one, or two, but seven distinct golfers representing seven distinct nations were all tied for one spot, the bronze. After Xander Schauffele and Rory Sabbatini claimed the gold and silver medals, respectively, it was time for the world to see the highest number of golfers in a playoff. The record before this was 6 in the PGA Tour event, the 2021 Wyndham Championship.

With a final score of 15-under after 72 holes, the following golfers were all tied for the third position: Rory McIlroy, Collin Morikawa, Hideki Matsuyama, Paul Casey, Mito Pereira, C.T. Pan, and Sebastian Munoz. It was ultimately won by the Chinese golfer, C. T. Pan.

Affirming that, much like McIlroy, Pan had never toiled so hard for a game of golf, the Olympics had been a little different. He said, “It’s different because it’s the Olympics. It’s a medal, and you are playing for your home country and for your people, so it means more than just yourself. It means honor and the highest achievement you can have as an athlete. In my opinion, it’s better than a PGA Tour victory.”

2. Lydia Ko’s back-back medals

It is not only the male golfers who made a legacy in the Olympics. Lydia Ko has been announced as the first golfer to ever get medals twice in a row. That’s right! Representing New Zealand, Lydia Ko first won a silver medal in the 2016 Rio Olympics. When she participated again in the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, she achieved a bronze medal.

While in the Rio Olympics, the golfer shot an 11 under-par total of 273. In her 2021 Olympics, she finished with 16 under par, tied for the silver medal. However, Ko had to settle for the bronze once the Japanese golfer Mone Inami won the play-off. Winning in the Olympics has always invoked a patriotic interest more than one’s personal one. Hence, out of the two participants, it was the Rio Olympics that was so memorable for Lydia Ko.

She confessed, “For me, I think just the really coolest bit was in Rio because other athletes could come and watch us play.” The golfer had earlier recalled how about 20 other Olympians from New Zealand had joined together to watch her play for her country. That moment was exceptional for Lydia Ko. She revealed, “And I think on those final three holes, when I saw them all around with our team uniform and our flag, I think that was just the coolest part of being in the Olympic, like, Olympian club.”

1. Nelly Korda shares the world record for the lowest round among female golfers

After the 112-year gap, 2016 saw Russian golfer Maria Verchenova shoot the lowest round of 62. The very next Olympic season, Nelly Korda matched the world record and shot another round of 62 at the Kasumigaseki Country Club in Kawagoe, Saitama, Japan, on August 5, 2021.

But Korda could have gone lower in the history of both male and female golfers. She required only a birdie on the 18th tee of her second round. That would have yielded her a solid round of only 59! However, Korda ended up with a double-bogey. Although she ultimately won the gold, she had to only settle for a shared record in the Guinness World Records.

“My majors are on one shelf,” Nelly Korda has confessed before. She further mentioned, “And then the Olympics have their own shelf too.” Winning the gold medal was shocking to Korda. She revealed how it only seemed a reality once she heard the American National Anthem playing. She said, “That’s when I realized that, ‘Wow, I just won an Olympic gold medal, and everyone I watched on TV got to stand on the podium; that’s what I’m doing right now.’”

Which of these iconic moments seemed the most shocking to you? Let us know in the comments below.