With Olympic fever in full flow, we finally get to see the world’s best compete for the coveted gold medal at Tokyo 2020. The men’s Olympic golf competition has already been hit by controversy, with high profile withdrawals including Jon Rahm and Bryson DeChambeau, so be sure to check the field regularly before placing your bets.
With that being said, there is still plenty of quality to choose from, so I have picked out three players I feel have a great chance to go for gold. But first…
Men’s Olympic golf details
Venue: Kasumigaseki Country Club, Saitama, Japan
Date: July 29-August 1, 2021
Course stats: Par 72; 7,465yds
Course summary: An hour north of the Olympic Village, Kasumigaseki is a typical Japanese tree-lined parkland course. Pristine Zoysiagrass fairways slalom towards well-protected Bentgrass greens, with thick Zoysiagrass rough awaiting any wayward shots. Heat and humidity may be the biggest factor here, and is certainly a consideration in my selections this week.
Purse: Olympic gold, silver and bronze medals
2016 medalists: Justin Rose (gold), Henrik Stenson (silver), Matt Kuchar (bronze)
Men’s Olympic golf TV coverage
Thursday: BBC One from 12am
Friday: BBC one from 12am
Saturday: BBC One from 12am
Sunday: BBC One from 12am
Men’s Olympic golf betting tips
Bazza’s Banker: Viktor Hovland @ 12/1 with Bet365
The likeable Norwegian will be relishing the opportunity to represent his country at the Olympics, and with strong recent form and some great numbers heading in, he has every chance of challenging for the gold medal. Having won just two starts back, and with three top-three finishes in his last seven events, Hovland arrives in prime condition. In the last six months, Hovland also ranks 4th for SG: Total, and more importantly 3rd for SG: Approach which will be important here. Hovland has won in Mexico and Puerto Rico, so should handle the conditions, and this could be the next big step in this young man’s exciting career.
The outsider: Garrick Higgo @ 45/1 with Bet365
Higgo has been one of the stories of the season so far, and with a fearless approach to playing on the world stage, this young South African could continue to make history this week. Despite missing four of his last five cuts, Higgo could use this opportunity to kickstart his season once more, especially considering he won three times and only finished outside the top-10 once in his previous six starts prior to that. Higgo is an excellent putter, something that will count for a lot here, and after conquering the European and PGA Tours in quick succession – what’s to stop the hat-trick from rolling in at the Olympic Games?
The long shot: Jhonattan Vegas @ 55/1 with Bet365
Vegas has all the characteristics to contend here, with his experience sure to be a strong factor, and at a big price he is certainly worth a look. The Colombian has been playing good golf for a while now, with two runner-up finishes in his last four starts. In the last three months he has also been a very consistent ball striker, ranking 7th for SG:Off-the-tee and 24th from Tee-to-green. With this heat and humidity unlikely to be a problem for Vegas, it could be a shrewd move to side with him this week.
For more prices visit Bet365.
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