5 things from 2024 Olympics men's golf including Xander Schauffele's battle with ants and Hideki Matsuyama's tough finish

The first 36 holes of the 2024 Olympic men's golf competition are in the books and the top of the leaderboard is packed with the game's biggest stars. Hideki Matsuyama, who was in a playoff for the bronze medal three years ago in Japan, leads the way at 11 under alongside Xander Schauffele -- reigning gold medalist -- and Tommy Fleetwood.

The Japanese star entered the week as one of the best tee-to-green players in the world, ranking fourth on the PGA Tour. However, his putting struggles have continued this year, ranking 135th (-.230). So far this week in Paris, Matsuyama has figured out the greens at Le Golf National, ranking first in Strokes Gained: Putting through two rounds.

Matsuyama was 13 under as he teed off on 18, but after a wayward tee shot and a water ball with his third, he made double bogey to fall back to 11 under.

Fleetwood, who won the 2017 Open de France on this golf course, fired a 7-under 64 on Friday to tie the lead after an opening 4-under 67. With three top-20 finishes in his last five starts, Fleetwood's good form has carried over into one of the year's biggest events despite feeling a bit uneasy over the ball.

"I haven't felt particularly comfortable with my swing all week," he said. "But I've been doing the things that I know are right and I've put the ball in play a lot and I've been doing the right things, and I think gradually as you keep hitting enough good shots, obviously you confidence build and you keep drawing on those feelings.

"It's coming."

If you missed any of the early-morning action from Paris, no worries, we have you covered. Here are five things to know from the second round of the Olympic men's golf competition at Le Golf National.

More: USA Today’s 2024 Olympics hub | How to watch | Full men’s field | Full women’s field

Xander Schauffele continues to roll

Schauffele entered 2024 with no majors on his resume. When he arrived in Paris as the reigning golf medal winner, he was a two-time major champion after wins at the PGA Championship and British Open.

Now, he's in position to add another medal to his trophy room.

The World No. 2 opened with a 65 on Thursday and followed it up nicely with a 5-under 66 on Day 2. Despite a few "clanky" shots, Schauffele was able to pour in seven birdies on Friday and tie the lead heading into the weekend.

"When you're in good form, all of us know that it's all about just making the correct decision and executing the shot and rinse and repeating that process," Schauffele said after signing his card. "So don't let too much try and bother you, and if you do hit bad shots, it's easier to accept it because you know you're playing really good golf and you can make it up somewhere else. In that sort of zone, I guess."

In the zone, indeed.

Among all the great things Schauffele did Friday, an odd scenario unfolded after one of his tee shots found the native area.

"I was sitting in this -- I just missed the rough, I guess, into the I guess maybe unknown as they would call it, the long stuff as I call it," he said. "I was kind of putting my club down and sort of that fluffy sort of -- fluffy grass almost, and I'm taking practice swings and I'm trying to get to my ball and I can't even -- what's going on, something is behind my ball.

"I went down and saw a pile, so I called an official. It was just ants. It was a pile of ants, an ant pile, or whatever you want to call it, and their home; so I didn't want to mess with it. Couldn't take relief. It's a loose impediment.

"I called for a second official because I asked the lady if I can use my club to scrape the sand since it's loose, and she's like yes. My gut was like, oh, boy, am I really going to use my club, have it on film, and then talk to you guys after?

"I got a second opinion and the guys said I could not move the grass but use my tee to move the ants."

When asked why he didn't take relief from a dangerous animal, Schauffele responded like only he could.

"Dangerous to some. I didn't feel too threatened by the ants."

Jon Rahm rounding into form

Rahm struggled in the first three major championships of the year, finishing T-45 at the Masters and missing the cut at the PGA Championship before having to withdraw from the U.S. Open due to injury. However, he got his game together at Royal Troon, grabbing a share of seventh.

The Spaniard has played well on the LIV circuit all year and finally captured his first win on the breakaway league last week in the UK. Now, he's right in the middle of medal contention at the Olympics.

Rahm fired a 66 on Friday, one shot better than the 4-under 67 he posted Thursday, and is now solo fourth, two shots back of the lead with 36 holes to play.

"It's good to come back to a world stage and put myself in position,' he said. "The Open I was there, but I wasn't quite close enough to have a chance on Sunday. Even though I ended up top 10, it was never really a reality of winning it.

"Today I put myself in position, and hopefully, I can keep it going on the weekend."

Checking in with some notable names

Tom Kim: 8 under, T-5

"I'm just trying to focus on my game," Kim said. "I'm a competitor and we all play for the same thing. It's just golf. So I'm just trying to put my head down and play."

Scottie Scheffler: 6 under, T-10

Matt Fitzpatrick: 5 under, T-13

Rory McIlroy: 5 under, T-13

Collin Morikawa: 4 under, T-19

"Look, I've got two more days, seven back," Morikawa said Friday. "So you know, you're not out of it. The way this whole format works, you're fighting for three spots. Come tomorrow at a certain point, if things aren't really clicking, you might have to just be a little bit more aggressive and hopefully, things pay out, and if they don't, they don't."

Ludvig Aberg: 4 under, T-19

Shane Lowry: Even, T-44

Wyndham Clark: 1 over, T-47

Viktor Hovland: 3 over, T-54

Shot of the day

How does this not go in!? From 260 yards, Rory McIlroy rattled it off the flagstick and went on to make an eagle.

"Did it hit the flag? I didn't even know. I didn't even know. I didn't even know. So I mean, guess I should be disappointed," he said when asked about the shot.

Top 10 and odds to win

T-1, 11 underXander Schauffele (+170)Hideki Matsuyama (+600)Tommy Fleetwood (+400)

4th, 9 underJon Rahm (+550)

T-5, 8 underThomas Detry (+3000)C.T. Pan (+6500)Tom Kim (+1600)

T-8, 7 underStephan Jaeger (+9000)Guido Migliozzi (+6000)

T-10, 6 underErik van Rooyen (+15000)Joaquin Niemann (+4500)Scottie Scheffler (+1000)

(Odds subject to change)

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This article originally appeared on Golfweek: 5 things from 2024 Olympics men's golf including Xander Schauffele's battle with ants and Hideki Matsuyama's tough finish