Through two rounds of the Olympic men’s golf competition, a major championship has broken out.

A leaderboard filled with stars – with a three-way tie at the top, including defending gold medallist Xander Schauffele of the U.S. – is exactly what this event needs to keep registering on golf fans’ radars moving forward.

The event was marred with the why-should-we-care question when it returned in 2016 in Rio de Janeiro at a golf course that was built only for the Olympic competition. There was no history. And with the Zika virus being a convenient out, plenty of the game’s best passed. The Tokyo Games were, of course, impacted by COVID-19.

This year’s competition has seen basically all of the game’s best tee it up at a venue, Le Golf National, with plenty of pedigree – a Ryder Cup host in 2018 and an annual stop on the DP World Tour.

The leaderboard through 36 holes reflects exactly that, and the guys themselves are getting up for a weekend showdown, with Schauffele – the winner of the last two majors on the schedule – the likely favourite after a 5-under 66 on Friday.

“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 told reporters. “In that sort of zone, I guess.

“Five under is a good score on this property. Overall, sitting in a good spot coming into the weekend.”

Schauffele is tied with Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama and Great Britain’s Tommy Fleetwood through 36 holes. Matsuyama, who fell short of a medal in a seven-way playoff for bronze in Tokyo, was up two before making a mess of the par-4 18th (the final two holes at Le Golf National are the two toughest on the property) en route to a closing double bogey.

Fleetwood, meanwhile, shot a 7-under 64 – tied for the second-lowest round of the day. The Englishman is no stranger to success at Le Golf National, having been a past winner of the Open de France and a winner of four points at the Ryder Cup six years ago. Fleetwood said the strategy at the course is to be solid off the tee and with approach shots. He’s been doing well with that effort so far.

“You still have to step up and hit a golf shot but I feel comfortable with how the course plays and the game plan and that,” Fleetwood said. “I haven’t felt particularly comfortable with my swing all week. 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 your confidence builds, and you keep drawing on those feelings.”

Spain’s Jon Rahm, last week’s winner on LIV Golf, is two shots back at 9 under and in fourth, while three golfers are at 8 under and tied for fifth, including, perhaps, the person with the most to play for this week – Tom Kim of South Korea.

Kim, at 22, has had lots of early success on the PGA Tour and is a lock to be part of Mike Weir’s International Team at the Presidents Cup in Montreal. But one thing that is, essentially, unavoidable, is a mandatory military service stint. South Korean men, once they turn 18, must serve a minimum of 18 months for their country. One of the ways Kim can avoid that is by winning an Olympic medal.

Despite more than a half-dozen questions on the subject after his 3-under 68 Friday, Kim finally admitted he wasn’t sweating what could come on Sunday night.

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

Canada’s medal hopes, meanwhile, rest on the shoulders of Corey Conners.

The Listowel, Ont., golfer is tied for 13th at 5 under through two rounds, six back of the leading trio.

Conners admitted he was “a little salty” early in his round Friday when he wasn’t able to convert his birdie chances. He’s been striping it around Le Golf National, a golf course seemingly built for his ball-striking prowess. Conners said he did a good job sticking to his game plan and that’ll continue to be what he does over the weekend. A good finish against a solid field would be nice, of course – but anything beyond third place means nothing this particular week.

“I feel like I’m inches away from a 4-, 5-, 6-under round and getting myself in the mix more,” Conners said. “I have a good plan and I’m executing that plan. It’s just a matter of making putts. Hit a lot of good iron shots. Made saves when I needed to. I feel comfortable with my game plan. I’m really close to shooting some good scores.”

Nick Taylor, the other Canadian in the field, shot a 2-over 73 on Friday and is tied for 46th.

Taylor will be grouped with Puerto Rico’s Rafa Campos and Colombia’s Nico Echavarria for the third round, while Conners will go with a pair of former world No. 1s in Rory McIlroy of Ireland and Jason Day of Australia.

Round 3 starts Saturday at 3 a.m. ET / midnight PT. The leaders tee off at 6:39 a.m. ET / 3:39 a.m. PT.

The Olympic men’s golf tournament is set to feature some of the top-ranked golfers in the world, making it a highly anticipated event for fans of the sport. With the likes of Dustin Johnson, Jon Rahm, and Justin Thomas all confirmed to compete, the competition is sure to be fierce.

Dustin Johnson, currently ranked as the number one golfer in the world, will be looking to add an Olympic gold medal to his already impressive list of accomplishments. Known for his powerful drives and consistent play, Johnson is considered one of the favorites to win the tournament.

Jon Rahm, who recently won his first major championship at the U.S. Open, will also be a strong contender at the Olympics. The Spanish golfer has been in excellent form this season and will be looking to continue his success on the international stage.

Justin Thomas, another top-ranked golfer, will be representing the United States at the Olympics. Known for his precision and skill on the course, Thomas is a formidable competitor who will be looking to add an Olympic medal to his collection.

Other top-ranked golfers set to compete in the tournament include Collin Morikawa, Xander Schauffele, and Rory McIlroy. With such a strong field of competitors, fans can expect to see some exciting and high-quality golf throughout the tournament.

The Olympic men’s golf tournament is a unique opportunity for these top-ranked golfers to showcase their skills on a global stage and compete for a prestigious gold medal. With so much talent on display, fans can look forward to an exciting and memorable event that is sure to captivate audiences around the world.