Pro Golf Now
Fansided

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. /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
8 of 11
Next
Jul 17, 2021; Sandwich, England, GBR; Paul Casey plays his shot from the 15th tee during the third round of the Open Championship golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Peter van den Berg-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 17, 2021; Sandwich, England, GBR; Paul Casey plays his shot from the 15th tee during the third round of the Open Championship golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Peter van den Berg-USA TODAY Sports /

Justin Rose brought home the gold for Great Britain at the 2016 Rio Olympics. Now, Paul Casey may represent the nation’s best chance at repeating.

Casey has been more consistent of late than Tommy Fleetwood, who will also represent the Union Jack in Japan. Casey has made six worldwide cuts in a row and 14 of his last 15 stroke play cuts.

The former Arizona State Sun Devil won this year at the European Tour’s Omega Dubai Desert Classic. Casey also has five top-10s in 2021, including T-4th at the PGA Championship. He finished T-26th or higher in all four majors.

The 44-year-old is one of the older competitors in the Olympics field. He still strikes his irons like it’s the 2000s.

Only ball striking phenom Collin Morikawa (1.502) has a higher strokes gained approach (.907) stat than Casey in the 2020-21 PGA Tour season.

Casey is also one of the best at blending distance and power off the tee, checking in at 50th in SG off the tee (.253). A healthy short game may be useful around Kasumigaseki Country Club. Casey is 29th in SG around the greens (.297).

He did not compete in the 2016 Olympics and will be 47 by the time the 2024 Games come around. You’ve got to think Casey will try to make the most of this opportunity.

“For me the Olympics was something I grew up on, watching every four years,” Casey was quoted earlier this month by the BBC. “You see those iconic Olympic moments but you never thought as a golfer you’d be part of that.

“So to be in team GB kit, which I got literally a few minutes ago, and to put that on and know that I’m going to go to the Olympics is something that is difficult to describe, but I’m very, very proud.”

Home/Golf News