Olympic golf: Matsuyama in the lead [Video]

SAINT-QUENTIN-EN-YVELINES, France –

Victor Perez of France repeatedly pumped his fist over his head before the opening tee shot Thursday, celebrating the start of Olympic golf before a large and raucous home crowd.

And then Hideki Matsuyama quietly went about his business for an 8-under 63 and a two-shot lead at Le Golf National. Right behind was a familiar figure — Xander Schauffele, 10 days removed from his British Open title and playing as though he hasn’t missed a beat.

The surprise was outside the ropes — nearly 20,000 spectators in stifling heat, traipsing across rough terrain and seeing unusually low scoring from overnight rain that softened the course.

Matsuyama, who lost in a seven-man playoff for the bronze in the Tokyo Games, had six birdies through 10 holes and kept a clean card with a 15-foot par save on the 17th.

“Fortunately, I was able to keep the ball in the fairway …