After a 112-year absence, golf returned to the Summer Olympics in 2016. Now, five years later, it’s back again this week, with Kasumigaseki Country Club outside Tokyo serving as the host site for back-to-back 72-hole tournaments.
First, the men, which take to the course July 28-31. The women’s competition will then follow Aug. 3-6.
All three medal winners from five years ago on the women’s side are back: gold medal winner Inbee Park, silver medalist Lydia Ko and bronze medal winner Shanshan Feng.
Team USA will match South Korea for the first time by sending four players, with Jessica Korda taking the fourth and final spot, joining No. 1-ranked Nelly Korda, Lexi Thompson and Danielle Kang.
On the men’s side, Patrick Reed replaced Bryson DeChambeau, who tested positive for COVID-19 and withdrew. Reed finished T-11 in 2016 and will become the only two-time Olympian on the U.S. men’s side. He’ll join Justin Thomas, Collin Morikawa and Xander Schauffele.
So who’s going to bring home the hardware this time around?
Golfweek‘s Steve DiMeglio projects the outcome for the men, while Beth Ann Nichols predicts the women.
Men
Gold: Justin Thomas, U.S.
Silver: Sungjae Im, South Korea
Bronze: Tommy Fleetwood, Great Britain
Women
Gold: Jin Young Ko, South Korea
Silver: Nelly Korda, U.S.
Bronze: Yuka Saso, Philippines
from Golfweek https://ift.tt/3l7nO6s