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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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Oct 1, 2017; Jersey City, NJ, USA; Justin Thomas tees off on the first hole during the final round singles matches of The President’s Cup golf tournament at Liberty National Golf Course. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 1, 2017; Jersey City, NJ, USA; Justin Thomas tees off on the first hole during the final round singles matches of The President’s Cup golf tournament at Liberty National Golf Course. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /

It’s not inconceivable for the Americans to send more than one player to the podium. Justin Thomas has a case to make in his Olympic Games debut.

JT isn’t quite having the 2021 he hoped for, particularly in the majors. With that said, he’s still outperforming 90-plus percent of the competition and has a marquee win at the Players Championship.

Thomas has just two missed cuts to his name this year and is on a streak of five made cuts featuring a top-10 at the Scottish Open and top-20 at the U.S. Open.

Thomas has seemed passionate about representing the stars and stripes for a while now. He put it out there before he was officially qualified that he was eager and willing to compete in Tokyo.

“I’m ecstatic to have the opportunity to do so, if the Olympics — I hope they happen and I hope I qualify because I think that would be one of the coolest honors that I’ve ever had,” Thomas was quoted in March by ASAP Sports. “It’s something you don’t obviously get to do too often and it’s probably the only one of the only tournaments that I would brag about playing in or qualifying for, the fact that I would be able to play for Team USA in the Olympics.”

The 28-year-old has the distance and variety of shots into greens to compete on any style of course. Pure talent like JT’s can often rise to the top at venues without horses for courses. It’s why he’s got a major and a slew of FedEx Cup Playoffs wins.

Thomas is fifth on the PGA Tour in strokes gained approach (.853). He seemed to be Mr. Irons for a number of years until fellow Olympian Collin Morikawa snatched that title up beginning in 2020.

Thomas is also fifth in strokes gained tee to green (1.469) and is hard to beat when he can drive it straight. With several players far down in the hundreds, the world rankings in the field, I don’t envision the tournament committee to inflict ultra tough conditions, weather permitting.

Seeing lots of red numbers out there suits Thomas’ aggressive style. The former Alabama Crimson Tide is fifth on Tour in holes per eagle (94.2) and 13th in birdies per round (4.19).

He got into Tokyo last week for the Opening Ceremonies, so I like him to be well acclimated and ready to go.

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