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

How can you not like the Champion Golfer of the Year to keep it rolling? Collin Morikawa has succeeded with poise throughout his amateur and pro career. Being a newcomer to a course, tournament or stage hasn’t kept him from winning. Making a debut at the Olympics should be no different.

It does help that, at most, anyone else in the field has only teed it up once in the Olympics, and that Kasumigaseki Country Club is a new venue to almost everyone.

Regardless of locale, Morikawa’s going to hit a ton of greens in regulation. He’s second on the PGA Tour in that stat (72.05%) and is far and away the top dog in strokes gained approach (1.502).

Morikawa perfected his trusty two-yard cut shot to pick apart Royal St. George’s a couple weeks ago at The Open.

While Kasumigaseki expects to be a bit more of an aerial test, that should still suit him just fine. Morikawa is not the longest hitter out there, but he can summon enough power to not be at a big disadvantage.

The putter is still a weak spot, though he looks far less nervy when important putts are on the line.

Morikawa told Golf Channel reporter Todd Lews that he’s treating this tournament like any other event. Well, to an extent.

“The same goal – to win. But it’s also to make memories,” Morikawa was quoted by NBC. “I’m going to be called an Olympian for life. It’s going to be the coolest experience. And I’m very happy that the golf is in the Olympics now because it just adds that extra incentive to add something to your resume that not a lot of people can do. Any time you’re able to represent your country, the U.S.A., it means a lot.”

Prior to his win at The Open, the former Cal-Berkeley standout won earlier this year at the WGC-Workday Championship. Morikawa is on a streak of eight made cuts worldwide, as well as 13 in stroke play events.

The 24-year-old made the cut in all four majors and was also top-10 at the U.S. Open and PGA Championship.

World No. 1 Jon Rahm had to withdraw from the Olympics due to a COVID-19 positive test. No. 2 and fellow American, Dustin Johnson, opted not to play, making Morikawa the top-ranked player and clear favorite to take home the gold.