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Robson Sharuko
Senior Sports Editor

IN the final three rounds of his dream Olympics adventure, Scott Vincent took his game to the level of some of the world’s greatest golfers, including a four-time Major champion.

The Zimbabwean golfer also matched a two-time Major winner, fresh from beating the world’s best golfers at the British Open Championships at Royal St George’s a few weeks earlier.

Vincent also matched, in those final three rounds, a home hero who, earlier this year, became the first Japanese golfer to win the prestigious Masters green jacket at Augusta National.

It’s a measure of how Vincent bounced back, after having struggled on the first day with a two-over-par 73, at Kasumigaseki Country Club in Saitama, near Tokyo, he finished just four strokes, outside the battle, for a bronze medal.

He finished tied 16th, on 11 under-par, while those who ended in a seven-man play-off battle for the bronze medal, were tied on 15-under-par.

But, for a man who looked down and out, after the first round, Vincent’s spectacular comeback show was very impressive as he went toe-to-toe with some of the best golfers, in the world.

The Zimbabwean shot a four-under-par 67, in the second round, a five-under-par 66, in the third round and a four-under-par 67, in the closing round.

That gave him an impressive 13-under-par 200, in the final three rounds and, having shot a two-over-par 73, in his opening round, it left Vincent on 11-under-par, which saw him finish tied 16th, on the final leader-board.

It was the best performance by a Zimbabwean, at the Olympics, in a game which has already given this country some of her greatest sportsmen, including three-time Major Champion, Nick Price.

But, golf is all about numbers, and to put Vincent’s vintage show, over those magical three rounds, into proper context, one needs to see some of the players, who the Zimbabwean matched, as he stormed home.

Northern Irishman, Rory McIIroy, playing for Ireland at the Olympics, is a four-time Major Champion, having won the 2011 US Open, the 2012 PGA Championship, the 2014 Open Championship and the 2014 PGA Championship.

McIIroy, who was eliminated in the play-off for the bronze medal, shot a five-under-par 66, in the second round, a four-under-par 67, in the second round and another four-under-par 67, in the final round.

This game him a 13-under-par 200, in his final three rounds, the same return as Vincent, in his final three rounds, in just a rough illustration of how the Zimbabwean played, after his struggles, in the first round.

“I’m really happy with how the week has gone. It would have been great to get a medal, but I’m already excited for what’s ahead and my next Olympic experience,’’ McIIroy told BBC Radio 5 Live.

“Before this week, it (becoming an Olympic champion) might have been something that wasn’t fully on my radar, but leaving Tokyo, it’s something that I really want to do.”

“I’ve never tried so hard in my life to finish third.

“It’s not a position I’ve found myself in very often but I gave it my all out there and it wasn’t quite meant to be, but I’m looking forward to having a crack at it again.

“It’s not just another golf tournament – it’s something much bigger than that.

“I didn’t realise that until I got here. I feel like golf has its Olympic Games four times a year, but this has a different feeling, it really does.

“I’ve really enjoyed teaming up with Shane (Lowry) for Ireland. It’s like a throwback to our amateur days.”

Colin Marikawa, the American golfer who had won the last Major by capturing the British Open Championship, also finished his last three rounds at 13-under-par 200.

He shot a one-under-par 70, in his second round, a four-under-par 67, in his third round an impressive eight under-par 63, in his final round.

Morikawa, a two-time Major winner, battled in the seven-man play-off, for the bronze medal, but was knocked out in a contest which was won by CT Pan of Chinese Taipei.

Pan, just like Vincent, had struggled, on the opening day, where he shot a three-over-par 74.

But, he produced the comeback story of the Olympics with three final rounds of 66, 66 and 63, to force himself, into the play-off, for the bronze medal, which he won.

Pan was the only one, among those who struggled, on the first day, to do better than Vincent, in the final three rounds, of the battle, for Olympic medals.

Ramus Hoejgaard of Denmark, who opened with a 73, followed that up with scores of 68, 66 and 71, five strokes adrift of Vincent, in the final classification.

Max Keiffer of Germany, who also opened his campaign with a 73, followed that up with scores of 69, 67 and 71 and, in the final three rounds, he found himself seven strokes behind the Zimbabwean.

Hideki Matsuyama, the first Japanese to win a Major title when he won the Masters, earlier this year, also finished his final three rounds on 13-under-par 200 after rounds of 64, 67 and 69.

Matsuyama lost in the play-off for the bronze medal.

American Xander Schauffele clinched the gold medal while Slovakia’s Rory Sabbatini secured silver, after closing with an Olympic record 10-under-par round, of 61.

It was an impressive closing show on the 7,466 par 71 course whose layout makes it one of the best, and most difficult courses, in Japan.