From $38,000 to exemption into all four majors: Perks Scottie Scheffler gets for winning gold at the Paris Olympics

Scottie Scheffler won gold at the Paris Olympics with a score of 19-under. It is the second consecutive Olympic gold medal for the United States in men's golf, as well as the third men's gold medal in history and the sixth overall.

Winning the Olympic gold carries a lot of historical weight, as it is a great honor for any athlete to win a medal on behalf of their country. However, Scheffler will also receive other, more tangible benefits from this victory.

The first is a $38,000 paycheck from the United States Olympic Committee for all Olympic champions. All American silver and bronze medalists will also receive payouts ($23,000 and $15,000, respectively).

In addition, Scheffler will receive a special exemption for all major championships in 2025. This is an unnecessary award for him as he meets more than one exemption category, especially after winning the Masters this year.

Scottie Scheffler also has the honor of writing his name into the very long Olympic history of the United States. He joins Xander Schauffele, Nelly Korda, Charles Sands, Margaret Abbott, and the 1904 team in the group of U.S. Olympic golf champions.

American golf has has eight other Olympic medalists. Chandler Egan and Pauline Whittier won silver in 1904, while Burt McKinnie (1904), Francis Newton (1904), Daria Pratt (1904), and Matt Kuchar (2016) won bronze. Two American teams won silver and bronze at the 1904 team event.

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A look at Scottie Scheffler's performance at the Paris 2024 golf event

Scottie Scheffler remained among the top contenders throughout the Paris Olympics golf event, although he didn't find himself in first place until the back nine of the fourth round.

On the first day, Scheffler carded a 4-under 67, a bogey-free round with four birdies. In the second round, the world number one shot a double bogey on the front nine, but bounced back in style to shoot four birdies and no bogeys on the back nine (2-under).

On "Moving Day", Scheffler carded six birdies and two bogeys (4 under) to start the final round four shots behind 54-hole leaders Xander Schauffele and Jon Rahm.

Scottie Scheffler birdied the first three holes of the fourth round and parred the next six to finish the front nine at 13-under for the tournament. On the same stretch, Rahm had five birdies and no bogeys to lead the American by six shots.

However, the Spaniard could not keep pace and played the back nine with two birdies, four bogeys and a double bogey, to miss out on a medal entirely.

Scheffler did the opposite, carding six birdies and no bogeys on the back nine to match the course record (9-under 62) and take the gold medal.

Tommy Fleetwood birdied the 16th for a share of the lead, but bogeyed the 17th and parred the 18th to lose his chance to force a playoff or even win gold.