Stephanie Meadow finished a brilliant seventh after a closing 66, and Leona Maguire tied 23rd as world No 1 Nelly Korda confirmed her status as the game's best player by claiming Olympic gold in a heart-stopping finale to the Women's Individual Stroke Play in Tokyo.

Patience was key as Leona Maguire and Stephanie Meadow battled scorching temperatures to keep their medal hopes alive on day one of the Women’s Individual Stroke Play in sweltering Tokyo.

Shane Lowry admitted he gets “goosebumps” at the mere mention of medals and even Rory McIlroy confessed he’s “happy to be proven wrong” about golf’s place the Olympics as they go into the final round with a chance to win gold in Tokyo on Sunday.

Rory McIlroy admitted it would be “unbelievable” if he and Shane Lowry could claim medals for Ireland after he fired a five-under 66 and the Offaly man a six-under 65 to roar back into medal contention on another weather-delayed day in Tokyo.

Ten-time Major champion Annika Sorenstam will succeed Peter Dawson as President of the International Golf Federation in 2021.