Above Par - Olympic Edition

Chapter 8 - From the Broadcast Booth

"Welcome back, ladies and gentlemen, to the 2024 Paris Olympic Golf Championship here at Le Golf National in Guyancourt. I'm Jack Saunders, and joining me in the commentary booth today is the ever-insightful Emma Clarke."

"Thanks, Jack. It's a beautiful day on the course, and we've got a fantastic lineup for the second round. Expectations are high after an exciting opening round yesterday."

"Absolutely, Emma. Yesterday we saw some stellar performances, particularly from Japan's Yuto Tanaka, who sits comfortably at the top of the leaderboard. But all eyes are on Canada's Frederic Maillet, who had a solid start but is expected to ramp things up today."

"That's right, Jack. Frederic is a crowd favorite, known for his powerful drives and precise putting. He's currently in third place, but he'll need to step up his game to catch Tanaka and Germany's Henrik Muller, who's in second."

"And it looks like the players are making their way to the first tee now. We can see Frederic Maillet getting ready, with his caddy, Felix Bourgeois, by his side. They had a bit of a rocky start yesterday, but let's see if they can find their rhythm today."

"Indeed, Jack. There's been some talk about Maillet's focus and his ability to handle pressure. He's got the skill, no doubt, but today will be a real test of his mental game."

***

"We're about halfway through the round now, and things aren't looking great for Maillet. After a solid start on the first three holes, he's hit a bit of a rough patch."

"You're right, Emma. It started with a wayward drive on the par-four fourth hole that found the rough. He struggled to recover and ended up carding a bogey. It seems like he's lost a bit of momentum."

"He's definitely not playing at his usual level of precision. That three-putt on the seventh didn't help his cause either. It seems like he's struggling to get the speed of these greens."

"And it's not just the putting. We've seen a few miscalculations with club selection today, haven't we?"

"Yes, Jack. And that brings us back to his caddy, Felix Bourgeois. He's relatively new to this level of competition, and the pressure must be immense. It'll be interesting to see if they can find their groove as the day progresses."

***

"Now, let's check in on the rest of the field. Yuto Tanaka is continuing his impressive run, extending his lead with a couple of birdies on the front nine."

"He's definitely showing why he's considered one of the top contenders. Meanwhile, Henrik Muller has been steady, maintaining his position in second. But keep an eye on Spain's Carlos Reyes, who's quietly moving up the leaderboard."

"And here comes Maillet on the par-five 13th. He needs a good drive here to regain some confidence."

"He's taken a moment to gather himself, and there it goes—a powerful drive right down the middle of the fairway. That's more like the Frederic Maillet we know."

"Let's hope that can spark a turnaround. He's currently sitting in fourth place, three strokes behind Muller and Reyes, who are tied for second."

***

"Well, folks, we're nearing the end of the round, and it's been a tough day for Maillet. He's had moments of brilliance, but consistency has been an issue."

"Emma, it's been a real rollercoaster for him. That double bogey on the 16th was unfortunate and could prove costly. It's left him scrambling to make up ground in these final holes."

"And now we're at the 17th, where Maillet needs to make something happen to stay in contention. But it looks like trouble off the tee again—his drive has veered right into the thick rough."

"He's visibly frustrated, Emma. You can see it in his body language. He's taking his time assessing his options, but this is not where he wanted to be at this stage."

"It's a tough shot from here. He's got to play it smart, but it's not going to be easy."

"Oh no, it looks like the approach shot has found the greenside bunker, adding more pressure as he tries to salvage the hole."

"He's not happy, Jack. You can see him shaking his head. And now to the 18th—his final chance to end the round on a positive note."

"And here's the moment of truth. Maillet steps up to the tee on the 18th, needing a strong finish to climb back up the leaderboard."

"There it goes, but—oh no, it's another miss! That drive has landed in the water hazard on the left. What a tough break for Malliet."

"He looks absolutely livid, Emma. You can see the tension mounting as he retrieves another ball. This has been a rough finish for him."

"And there it is, Jack, another bogey on the 18th. That'll drop him to fifth place for the day. Not the outcome he was hoping for."

"And as Maillet makes his way off the green, it looks like he's having words with his caddy. There goes the putter—he's tossed it over to Felix, clearly frustrated with how things ended."

"Oh my, Jack! That was close. Felix barely managed to dodge that one. That's not the kind of handoff you want to see."

"Indeed, Emma. That sort of attitude could've cost him dearly if it happened any earlier in the round. Emotional control is crucial at this level, and losing it can lead to critical mistakes."

"Right you are, Jack. Maillet is a fierce competitor, and he'll need to regroup before tomorrow's round. It'll be interesting to see how he bounces back from this setback."

"Well folks, it seems like that's the end of round two. Thanks for joining us today. Stay tuned for more exciting Olympic golf action as the tournament continues tomorrow for round three. Until then, this is Emma Clarke and Jack Saunders signing off."