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2021 men’s Olympic golf: Top 10 power rankings at Kasumigaseki CC

By Mike Randleman

Hideki Matsuyama reacts after putting the 17th during the first round of Rocket Mortgage Classic at the Detroit Golf Club in Detroit, Thursday, July 1, 2021.
Hideki Matsuyama reacts after putting the 17th during the first round of Rocket Mortgage Classic at the Detroit Golf Club in Detroit, Thursday, July 1, 2021. /
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May 21, 2021; Kiawah Island, South Carolina, USA; Viktor Hovland hits from the seventh tee during the second round of the PGA Championship golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
May 21, 2021; Kiawah Island, South Carolina, USA; Viktor Hovland hits from the seventh tee during the second round of the PGA Championship golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports /

While Viktor Hovland is the main face of Norwegian golf these days, he at least has role models to follow.

Espen Kofstad (T-43rd) competed in the 2016 Olympics on the men’s side and Marianne Skarpnord (T-25th) and Suzann Pettersen (10th) on the women’s side.

“We had a couple of Norwegian players play in 2016, and they certainly loved the experience,” Hovland was transcribed by ASAP Sports in May. “Obviously, it’s the Olympics, and if you have a chance to compete, I certainly would not decline.”

Hovland has played steady golf since his amateur career and has continued it since turning pro in 2019.

He was twice a winner on the PGA Tour in 2020 at the Puerto Rico Open and Mayakoba Golf Classic. In 2021, Hovland won the European Tour’s BMW International Open and has missed just one cut to go with one withdrawal.

The former Oklahoma State Cowboy posted T-12th in his last start at The Open and should benefit from a week off after a major leading into the Olympics.

Hovland comes to Kasumigaseki with third-place finishes at the Valspar Championship and Wels Fargo Championship to boot.

The 23-year-old will rely on his ball striking to vie for a gold medal in what would be up there with the U.S. Amateur title for Hovland’s best performance.

He ranks ninth on the PGA Tour in strokes gained tee to green (1355) and is proficient with the driver at sixth in SG off the tee (.701).

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