Five things to know about a dream leaderboard in Paris, where Olympic gold puts Lydia Ko in LPGA Hall of Fame

Katie Goodale-USA TODAY Sports
This is exactly the kind of board many in the game hoped to see in Paris.

Lydia Ko, who hopes to play her way into the LPGA Hall of Fame in the most epic manner – by winning gold – being chased by a who’s who cast of characters like world No. 1 Nelly Korda, Rose Zhang and Atthaya Thitikul.

There’s a Cinderella story in co-leader Morgane Metraux, who ranks well outside the top 100 and and has won on the Epson Tour and LET but never the LPGA.

There’s mom Mariajo Uribe, who delayed retirement by three years to play this week and plans to end her career after tomorrow’s final round no matter what happens. She’s in prime position to give Colombia it’s third medal of the Paris Games.

Frenchwoman Celine Boutie is looking for a final-round surge a la countryman Victor Perez.

It’s a beautifully diverse board, both in background and flag, and more star power than the LPGA has enjoyed in any of its previous majors this season.

Ko, one of the most popular players on tour for more than a decade, has a chance to do something Saturday that might not ever be repeated in golf – win a third different Olympic medal.

“It’s really cool that if I did win the gold, I could get in the Hall of Fame, and it would stop all these questions, like from you in the future,” she told the press after the round.

“I feel like if it’s going to happen, whether it’s in Paris or in Florida or in Scotland, it’s going to happen. And I’m just excited that I have this opportunity.”

Hall of fame: Where does Lydia Ko, Lexi Thompson, Nelly Korda stand?

Here are five things to know going into the final round of the Paris Olympics:

Swiss sensation
2024 Olympics
Morgane Metraux of Switzerland on No. 3 in the third round of women’s individual stroke play during the Paris 2024 Olympic Summer Games at Le Golf National. (Katie Goodale-USA TODAY Sports)

Morgane Metraux eagled the 18th hole to reclaim a share of the lead with New Zeland’s Ko, a 20-time winner on the LPGA who cheered for Metraux every set of the way. Currently No. 137 in the Rolex Rankings, Metraux first earned LPGA membership after finishing ninth on the Epson Tour’s Race for the Card in 2021. She’s never before found herself in this kind of spotlight, and so far, the Swiss player has risen beautifully to the challenge.

“I was a lot more calm and serene than I thought I was going to be,” said Metraux. “It was really helping playing with girls I knew and are super nice, too.”

While Metraux’s big sister Kim, who competes on the LET, isn’t on the grounds in Paris this week, her 85-year-old grandmother, Odette, is on hand.

No.1 fan 🥺

Morgane Metraux is being cheered on by her biggest supporter, her 85-year-old grandma Odette, this week!#Paris2024 | #Olympics pic.twitter.com/Dsfl3809uJ

— Ladies European Tour (@LETgolf) August 9, 2024

Morgane’s most recent victory came at the 2024 Jabra Ladies Open, which also hosts the Amundi Evian Championship and is across Lake Geneva from her hometown of Lausanne, Switzerland.

Rose in bloom
2024 Olympics
Rose Zhang of the U.S. putts on th 16th hole in the third round of women’s golf competition at the Paris 2024 Olympic Summer Games at Le Golf National. (Katie Goodale-USA TODAY Sports)

Rose Zhang’s third round included two eagles and a double-bogey as the American managed to make big moves on Moving Day. Zhang’s 67 puts her two back of the leaders and in position to give Team USA a gold medal once again in the Olympic Games.

On the par-5 18th, Zhang pulled a 6-iron with a helping wind from 191 yards to two feet for a closing eagle.

“I think especially on this golf course, you can’t put yourself too ahead of what’s in front of you,” said Zhang, who is making her Olympics debut. “Especially with how conditions played today.”

No. 1 lurking
2024 Olympics
Nelly Korda of the United States tees off on No. 1 in the third round of women’s golf competition at the Paris 2024 Olympic Summer Games at Le Golf National. (Katie Goodale-USA TODAY Sports)

Scottie Scheffler trailed by six shots early on the back nine before putting together a come-from-behind victory for the ages in Paris. World No. 1 Nelly Korda is very much aware of Scheffler’s feat. She sits five back as she looks to win a second gold medal in an already stunning six-win season.

Korda’s had a rollercoaster week so far in France, trudging through six three-putts while still thrilling the crowds with a swing that’s the envy of all of golf.

The most memorable hole of the day for Korda was the par-4 seventh, where she hit an errant tee shot and then later holed out from 82 yards for birdie. Korda shot 70 on Day 3, good for a share of seventh. She’s tried hard all week to find the positive.

“I’m giving myself a chance,” she said.

Friday’s best
2024 Olympics
Hannah Green of Australia plays her second shot on the 10th hole during the third round of the women’s golf competition at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris at Le Golf National. (Andrew Redington/Getty Images)

Australia’s Hannah Green holed out for eagle on the par-4 17th and followed it with birdie on the last to card a 66 and vault into medal contention. A two-time winner on the LPGA this season, Green carded the low round of the day and holds a share of 11th at 3 under, four shots back of those tied for second.

“Feels good,” said Green. “That’s what I wanted to do at the start of the week. It’s been great to experience the Paris Olympics, but I believed in myself that I could win and have a podium finish and now I’ve put myself in a good position to be able to do that with one more round to go.”

Home sweet home
2024 Olympics
Celine Boutier of France tees off on the first hole to start her third round of women’s golf competition at the Paris 2024 Olympic Summer Games at Le Golf National. (Katie Goodale-USA TODAY Sports)

There’s still a chance for Celine Boutier to find herself on a podium Saturday. In fact, she could be on any of the three given her experience at Le Golf National and the amount of support she’ll have from the home crowd. The only French player to win the Amundi Evian Championship, Boutier knows what it’s like to win a big event with the weight of a country on her shoulders. This will, no doubt, feel even more pressure-packed, but she knows she’s done it before.

Boutier’s third-round 71 puts her in a share of seventh at 4 under, five back of the leaders.