For only the 2nd time in the modern-day era golf will be an Olympic sport again after being held in 2016 for the 1st time in 112 years. For some players the chance to represent their countries at such a rare event was a no brainer & for others it just doesn’t fit their schedules & with Covid they have opted out. The event will be exactly the same as a normal stroke play event with 72-hole scoring & the lowest scorer winning the Gold Medal & 2nd & 3rd picking up the Silver & Bronze. Where players are tied for the 1st,2nd & 3rd position a sudden death play-off will commence. Just 59 Men & 60 Women will compete at the games so there will be no cuts for either competition. The men’s tournament will start 6 days after the opening ceremony on Thursday 29th July finishing on the Sunday. The women will then start on Wednesday 4th August finishing on the Saturday. Schedule below
Course
This year the Olympic golf will be held at the Kasumigaseki country club on the East course located 31km outside Tokyo in Saitama. The course opened in 1929 & was designed by Kinja Fujii & Shirou Akaboshi. The scorecard will be a par 71 consisting of 4 Par 3s,11 par 4s & 3 par 5s. Measuring 7466 on the Tournament card the course is a similar length to most Tour events. The ladies can expect to play of 6500 yards with the same scorecard set up. The course has held a range of different championships in its history the most recent event was the 2010 Japan Amateur which recent Master Champion Hideki Matsuyama won by 5 shots shotting 15underpar. Also playing this week who took part was Ryan Fox who finished T34 with 9 over. However, the Championship was on the West course, but some practice might have taken place on the East course prior to this.
@Golftipster5 Selections:
Note all selections were made before Rahm & Bryson had to WD & the Women’s were made before the Evian Championship commenced so form will not have Evian Result in. I will post odds that I got & the current best odds available on Sunday 25th July
Men’s Olympic Picks
Collin Morikawa 10-1 Skybet 6 Places. Current Best Odds 8-1 Skybet
When Collin is double figure odds all be it small after his Open win how can I not pick him. The best Iron player in the world put on a stripe show at The Open last week winning comfortably in the end by 2 shots ahead of Jordan Spieth. After already winning more tournaments than he has had missed cuts he will be keen to add an Olympic Gold to his impressive resume. 5 wins to 4 missed cuts for anyone wanted the figures. With no cut this week Collin can certainly rely of his consistent iron game shoot 4 low rounds & bring home what will probably be 1 of many Gold medals for team USA. As per usual every week Collin tees it up if he has a good week with the putter, he will most certainly be challenging come Sunday afternoon if not winning. He is statistically ranked one of the worst putters on tour (170th) but the best Approach player ranking 1st in strokes gained tee to green & approach to the green so when the putter behaves, he challenges. Current from reads 1-71-4-2-14
Sung-Jae Im 33-1 Skybet 6 Places. Current Best Odds 28-1 Skybet
Sung Jae missed The Open Championship to prep for the Olympics & it’s hard to not understand why him & Si Woo Kim both did this. In Korea if you win a medal at the Olympics you get the honour of getting to bypass the 2-year national service every Korean must do in their lifetime. A minimum of 2 years is a long time away from golf just look at Sang Moon Bae. He was ranked 85th in the world in 2015 when he left for national service, he returned ranked 1900th & he has only managed 1 victory on the Korn ferry tour since returning 5 years ago which many will blame the national service. He had racked up 12 victories before he left which just shows how it affected him. With this is mind Sungjae will be more determined than ever this week to at least get a Bronze medal so expect plenty of pin seeking this week to go low. Sunjae played on the Japan Tour before coming over to the States for the Korn Ferry & now PGA tour. He never recorded a victory in Asia but can rely on his experience of the conditions in Japan to bring home a Medal. Current form reads 47-8-35-35-MC
Tommy Fleetwood 33-1 Skybet 6 Places. Current Best Odds 30-1 Betfair
After the various Withdrawals from Team GB Tommy jumped at the chance to represent his country. He was quoted saying Justin Rose winning in 2016 helped inspire him. “He spoke to me about it a lot. I just think it was really cool like seeing his face light up and hearing him talk about how he felt about not only competing in Olympics but being an Olympic gold medallist. It was very, very cool seeing him and watching him talk about it” Also looking from his socials he looks elated to be going to the Olympics. Tommy like Morikawa can rely on excellent iron play this week to get himself into contention. For the last 4 years he has ranked 3rd.4th, 1st & 1st in Greens in regulation on the European tour. It’s always been the flat stick that lets Tommy down ranking in the 100s each year. However, his passion alone I believe can get him through this week, his Ryder Cup performance where you don’t just play for yourself he was exceptional so playing for Team GB he will relish the opportunity. Current form Reads 33-26-17-50-35
Rikuya Hoshino 150-1 Skybet 6 Places. Current Best Odds 125-1 Skybet
Rikuya is one of the best players on the Japan tour currently, he managed to knock out much fancied Takumi Kanaya out of the last Position to represent Japan just a few weeks before the cut off. Rikuya’s last 4 events have all been majors & he has unfortunately had 3 missed cuts & a 26th in the US Open. He can get back to his best this week with home comforts. On the Japan Tour this year he ranks 1st in Money earned. He has the 4th best scoring average with 69.94 & has a par or better percentage of 87.21% which ranks him 4th on tour. He is a player I believe will be on the Major Tours in the next few years with his ability. Current form reads MC-MC-26-MC-1
Outsider
Jazz Janewattananond 200-1 Skybet 6 Places. Current Best Odds 200-1 Bet365
Jazz hasn’t had the best of years but has still managed a 2nd & a 11th finish in his last 8 start with 4 missed cuts. In 2019 he was one of the best Asia tour players in the world registering 6 wins & 10 2nd or 3rd Place finishes. He also got to 40th in the world rankings. A player like Hoshino who can take advantage of knowing how the conditions & humidity will affect the golf ball. I like his chances this week & at 200-1 I’m happy to take it on each way. Current form reads 46-MC-MC-37-MC
Women’s Olympic Picks All odds still currently best available
Patty Tavatankit 18-1 5 Places William Hill
Patty missed this weeks Evian Championship in order to be well prepped for the Olympic games. Having already won a major this year she will look to add an Olympic medal to her resume. She is one of the best putters on tour with her average putts per green in regulation ranking her 4th & average putts taken 14th. She hits just over 70% of greens in regulation which ranks 63rd but is still very respectable. Since her maiden major win, she has carried on her impressive for with 4 tops 5s in 7starts. The current leader for the Rookie of the year award form reads 5-21-26-5-3
Leona Maguire 28-1 5 Places Mansion Bet
After a record equalling major round of 61 in her final round week to finish T6 Leona can go to Tokyo full of confidence. She will be looking to capitalise on the smaller field this week to get her 1st victory. She has 5 top 10 finishes this year so far & her form certainly deserves a win so why not an Olympic Gold. She ranks 10th on the scoring average for the tour this season with 70.08 which is certainly helped with 161 birdies & 5 eagles in 42 rounds of golf. She is also ranked as one of the best putters on tour with a putt per green in regulation ranked 5th & average putts per round ranked 22nd with 29.44. All attributes she can use this week to go for Gold. Current form reads 15-15-2-9-26
Mone Inami 50-1 Boyle Sports 6 places
Mone is a player that isn’t a household name on the LPGA tour. She plays predominantly on the JLPGA. She fully deserves her spot on the Japanese team with Nasa Hataoka. She has won on the Japan tour 5 times in 2021 & has 4 top 5 finishes. At 50-1 in a field of 60 I’m more than happy to take this on. She ranks 1st n scoring average on tour with 70.28. A relatively short driver by tour standards at an average of 237.98yards she hits the fairway 74.28% of the time. With no travelling to get to the Olympics as Japan is where she is based, she should be one of the freshest & best rested players this week. The Majority of the field have at least an 12hour flight from the Evian & those still stateside are looking at nearly a 24hour travel day. Mone will also be used to all the conditions that playing in Japan has to offer which will stand in her favour. Current form reads 4-22-MC-MC-41.
Gaby Lopez 66-1 Boyle Sports 6 places
Gaby has planned her entire year around the games. “That’s what my schedule is going to be played around, being rested, being prepared, in time to play well that week” She also got the honour of carrying her countries flag in the Opening Ceremony. The 2-time LPGA tour winner will be looking to hit top form this week to get herself a Gold Medal. She passed on this week’s Evian Championship like a few others in order to be ready to go come game day. Gaby is one of the longer hitters on tour hitting an average of 272.63 yards off the tee with a 67.22% accuracy. Greens in regulation she ranks 28th on tour with 73.86%. This helps her to be the 10th best birdie scorer this season with 177 birdies in 49 rounds. Current form reads 3-MC-25-41-42
Outsider
Maria Fassi 500-1 Boyle Sports 6 places
After her finish at the Evian I’ve added her as the outsider at 500-1. More than enough value for one of the longest hitters on the tour. She currently averages 277.81 yards off the tee. Its been a year of Missed cuts for Fassi but she seems to have made a turn in the right direction. After teaming up with Stacey Lewis in the previous week she’s opened up about how much she learned from playing with her for a few rounds “I asked her a million questions, from what it is that she does on practice rounds to what she is looking for, to why she’s hitting some of the shots she was or why she plays the way she plays.” It looks to have payed off with 3 rounds in the 60s this week at the Evian Championship & she will look to continue the trend at the Olympics. Recent form reads 15-MC-MC-MC-MC