By Kent Paisley
Go back to the start of 2021 and tell Nelly Korda this is how her season would go. The 23-year-old would be a four-time winner, the World No. 1, a major champion, and an Olympic gold medalist. Her reaction would be like that of any reasonable golfer.

“I would tell the person to leave,” she said. “Honestly, it’s crazy.”

Korda continued her dream season with a tumultuous final-round 69 at Kasumigaseki Country Club to win the women’s golf gold at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics on Saturday. Korda, whose victory completed an American sweep of the golf gold medals after Xander Schauffele’s triumph in the men’s tournament, fought through a double bogey, being caught twice and waiting through a late 48-minute delay with two holes to finish because of looming Tropical Storm Mirinae.

“It’s crazy,” Korda said. “It sounds absurd that I’m a gold medalist and an Olympian. I don’t know. It hasn’t sunk in yet.”

Korda started Saturday with a three-shot lead that moved to four with birdie on the second hole. It was her first in 14 holes, going back to the sixth hole of the third round.

Playing in the same final threesome, Lydia Ko, wasn’t waiting for Korda to close the door. Ko, who ultimately shot 65, birdied four of the first five holes to cut the lead to two. Ko served as a final-round foil for the second time in 2021, as her Sunday 62 in chase of winner Patty Tavatanakit at the ANA Inspiration this year came to mind early at Kasumigaseki Country Club.

It was at the par-3 seventh where Korda’s mettle faced arguably its biggest test. She tugged her tee shot to the left of the back-pin location, with her ball rolling down into the collection area.

Korda faced a problematic downhill lie for her chip, but you couldn’t have reasonably expected her to take three shots to get onto the green from there. Her first barely got above the fringe to the false front, and it trickled to an uphill lie. After her second didn’t stay up either, rolling rolled back past her feet, the fast-playing Korda stepped up the pace and took nine seconds to hit her third. She knocked it pin-high to save double bogey, but had fallen into a three-way tie for the lead alongside Ko and Aditi Ashok.

“I feel like it [the double bogey] just motivated me more,” Korda said. “I can’t play like this today. I can’t go out like this. I always want to fight, and I’m going to fight until the end.”

Stephen McCarthy
Nelly Korda (left) is congratulated by her sister Jessica Korda after winning the women’s Olympic golf tournament.

Fought Korda did—spectacularly. She birdied Nos. 8, 9 and 10 to battle back to a three-shot lead. Korda holed a 21-footer on the eighth, responding to Ko after the Kiwi knocked a wedge close to the pin to set up an easy birdie of her own. The American maintained the momentum with eight- and nine-foot birdies on Nos. 9 and 10, returning to 17 under par, and back to three ahead of Ko and Ashok.

Korda’s three-stroke advantage held until Mone Inami of Japan entered the picture on the back nine. The five-time Japan LPGA Tour winner in 2021 birdied four straight holes from Nos. 12-15. The streak cut Korda’s lead down to one as Inami walked off to the 16th. Ko again challenged, too, capitalizing on the scorable final side with three birdies in a row from the 13th through 15th to get one behind Korda. Her close contact didn’t last, as Ko bogeyed the 16th to fall two off the lead with two to play.

The looming weather system—one that had International Golf Federation officials on edge all week, nervous it might wipe out the final round and force the tournament be cut to a 54-hole affair—struck on the 17th. After Inami marked her 15-foot putt for birdie and the last group teed off, the horn blew. Thankfully, it was only a brief delay, and when the players returned, the break didn’t cool off the Japanese star. She drained her putt for the fifth birdie of her last six holes to tie Korda.

Korda missed a downhill five-foot birdie putt and remained tied with Inami with the 18th left. Ko two-putted for birdie at 17 to linger just one back.

Inami bogeyed the last after hitting her approach into the wet bunker in front of the green and being unable to get up-and-down. She shot a six-under 65 Saturday, earning the silver medal after defeating Ko with a par on the first playoff hole. It adds to Japan’s great 2021 in golf, with Hideki Matsuyama winning the Masters and Tsubasa Kajitani capturing the Augusta National Women’s Amateur.

“I’m so grateful [for] the Japanese to win this medal,” Inami said. “I’m so happy.”

Korda wiped any lingering thoughts of the double-bogey finish to Thursday that ruined her chance at a historic 59 with hitting the 18th green in regulation. The World No. 1 polished her golden coronation with an easy tap-in par, becoming America’s second women’s golf gold medalist alongside Margaret Abbott from the 1900 Paris Olympics.

Mike Ehrmann
Nelly Korda celebrates with the gold medal after finishing off a closing 69 to win by one shot.

As the national anthem played during the medal ceremony, Korda teared up as her historic accomplishment sunk in. “You don’t really understand it until you’re in the position,” Korda said. “It’s such an incredible feeling, because at the end of the day you’re not just playing for yourself, you’re playing for your country, and there’s so much history in the Olympics. Just to be a part of that feels amazing.”

The podium moment marks three wins for Korda over the last six weeks, including the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, where she became the No. 1 player in the world. Leave it to Jessica Korda to put her sister’s dominant year into proper context.

“I would just say that this is like a dream season,” Jessica said. “This is what you would expect out of Inbee Park. This is just kind of like almost legend status that you would get on just as a golfer period, male or female. This is just a dream season to have.

“I hope that it keeps continuing, because it’s so much fun to watch it.”

The post Nelly Korda’s nervy win gives U.S. a gold medal sweep in Olympic golf appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

By Tod Leonard
Gold, silver or bronze. The medal didn’t matter. And in the end, getting no jewellery at all didn’t tarnish the respect and admiration Aditi Ashok earned as a Tokyo Olympian. She was the flyweight boxer buzzing circles around the heavyweights. She was the rowing team with balsa wood for paddles. If she was in shooting, her weapon of competition would have been a BB gun.

Think about this: Ashok, the slightly built 23-year-old pro from India, regularly gave up more than 40 yards off the tee to her playing partners, Nelly Korda and Lydia Ko, in the final round of the Olympic women’s golf competition at Kasumigaseki Country Club. For the week, she ranked 59th out of 60 players in driving distance with a 226-yard average and was 47th in strokes gained/off-the-tee.

On the par-4 ninth hole Saturday, Ashok pulled her drive into the rough and had 187 yards to the flagstick. She didn’t come close to reaching the green with her fairway wood and suffered a bogey. Korda and Ko both used 8-irons, the former making birdie to extend the lead she held onto to capture gold for America.

It all seemed like a terribly unfair fight, except that Ashok never saw it that way. No 200 in the world versus the current No. 1 and the former rankings princess. Up against women her age with loads more trophies and accolades and money. None of that became an excuse, and for that, Ashok’s performance will be remembered as one of the gutsiest in these Games.

In medal contention to the final hole, Ashok came up one shot short of getting into a playoff for the silver and bronze medals. She shot three-under-par 68 in the final round to finish at 15 under, one back of Ko and Japan’s Mone Inami and two behind Korda. It was Inami who prevailed in that final battle, winning silver with a par on the first extra hole when Ko made bogey after driving into a bunker.

The Golf Channel broadcasters talked glowingly of Ashok’s week and what it would mean to her country of 1.4 billion people—a good portion of whom hadn’t watched golf or played it until Ashok competed in the 2016 Olympics as a teenager. As Ashok stayed in contention down the stretch, tweets were shared from the people of her country cheering her on, including one from the president of India, Ram Nath Kovind.

But if Ashok was feeling the love, it wasn’t immediately evident in the aftermath. She is no Cinderella, but a seasoned player, having bounced between the Ladies European Tour (where she has three victories) and the LPGA (which has presented a much more formidable challenge). Like any Olympic athlete finishing in fourth, there is very little consolation.

“I didn’t leave anything out there,” Ashok said. “I think I gave it my 100 percent, but, yeah, fourth at an Olympics where they give out three medals kind of sucks.”

Ashok tied for 41st in the Rio Olympics five years ago, and despite her experience since then, there was no reason to believe she would contend this time. She contracted COVID-19 in May, and the disease left her weak enough to have lost 15 yards off the tee—a circumstance for a short hitter that all but eliminated her from competing with her peers. Indeed, leading up to the Olympics, Ashok had missed four of the last five cuts on the LPGA Tour and owned one top-10 finish in her last 15 starts between the LPGA and LET.

Ashok is, however, a superb putter with a smooth, rhythmic stroke—a skill that keeps her in the pro ranks. And that was the case in the Olympics, where she was far and away the best putter in the field. In a remarkable stat, she was No. 1 for the week in strokes gained/putting, gaining a cumulative 13.01 shots on the field. That’s a stat that is often measured in one-tenths, not by more than 10. The fourth round happened to be Ashok’s best margin, beating the field by four strokes on the greens, thanks to 12 one-putt greens, including the first nine in a row.

But only three of those front-nine putts were birdie makes, because Ashok put herself in such trouble off the tee. She found only one of the seven fairways on the front and only four for the round. Even that was too much to ask from a woman who can be a whiz with a rescue club.

“It was a hard day for me because I really didn’t have my best off the tee,” Ashok said. “It was really hard to make a score missing so many fairways, but I hung in there.”

Ashok was asked on the broadcast what she would take away from such a memorable week.

“Knowing that even though I was pretty much the shortest hitter … most of the girls out here on the top of the leader board, I can still contend with them,” she said. “If I could maybe pick up 15 to 20 yards, I could be like a whole different player. That’s a positive and that’s what I’m going to work on.”

She’s already got moxie and fortitude in the bag.

The post No Olympic medal for Aditi Ashok, but she earned the golf world’s respect appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

By Ryan Herrington
It was toasty at Kasumigaseki Country Club last week during the men’s Olympic tournament, but not like it was for the opening round of the women’s competition. Temperatures climbed to the high 90s with the heat index hitting 110 degrees as players and caddies struggled to stay hydrated.

“It was definitely probably the hottest I’ve ever been on a golf course and that’s saying a lot. I’ve won in Thailand and I’ve won in Malaysia,” said Jessica Korda, who shot an opening-round 71 to sit five off the lead. “This is a whole another beast of heat when you feel it radiating inside the cups, you know it’s pretty hot out there. So just trying to stay present was the goal today.”

Unfortunately, the weather forecast suggests the conditions won’t let up for the second round on Thursday—97 degrees is the predicted high—with the potential for other problems later in the week. A tropical storm off the coast of Japan is expected to arrive late Friday and produce thunderstorms throughout the day on Saturday—the scheduled final round— and Sunday. The forecast calls for an 85 percent chance of rain on Saturday and 60 percent chance on Sunday.

Due to the pending storms, the tournament committee overseen by the International Golf Federation has sent an advisory to players notifying them that the competition could be reduced to 54 holes. No official decision has been made, as the committee will continue to evaluate the situation during and after the second round.

Approaching storm forces officials at the #Olympics to consider 54-hole finish to women’s competition. pic.twitter.com/mklwVYs3Li

— Rex Hoggard (@RexHoggardGC) August 4, 2021

An alternative the committee explored to keep the tournament at 72 holes was to play more than 18 holes on Thursday and Friday. However, because of the heat issues, medical staffers have advised against that.

The notice is surely important for the field to be aware of as players compete in the second round. In all likelihood, the tournament will be shortened, meaning there’s less time to make up ground if you’re farther down the leader board on Day 1.

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As you wake up on Thursday, here’s everything you need to know about the opening round of the women’s Olympic golf tournament

By Kent Paisley
A 5.8 magnitude earthquake shook off the coast of Japan Wednesday morning, two hours before Mone Iname had the honour of hitting the first tee shot in her home country to start the women’s Olympic tournament. The rumbling foretold the shakeout of the leader board to come as 22 players managed to finish under par during the first round at Kasumigaseki Country Club, where scalding heat took over as the dominant storyline by day’s end.

Sweden’s Madelene Sagstrom jumped out front with the only bogey-free round, shooting a five-under 66. However, it doesn’t feel like a particularly safe lead, as the top five players in the world are all lurking nearby. No. 1 Nelly Korda sits a shot back, and No. 2 Jin Young Ko trails by two. Defending gold medalist Inbee Park, Sei Young Kim and Danielle Kang are three strokes behind at two-under.

Chinese Taipei’s Wei-Ling Hsu’s got to five-under through six holes and seemed to signal that Kasumigaseki Country Club could surrendering the birdies it gave up to the men last week. She couldn’t keep up the pace, making bogeys on three of her next seven to finish at two under, but she served as a looming reminder that birdies are out there in pursuit of a podium position. Here are four takeaways from Wednesday’s first round.

Sagstrom channels another Swede
Shortly before teeing off Wednesday, Sagstrom talked with the most outstanding golf talent to come out of her home country, Annika Sorenstam. Sorenstam flew over to Tokyo in her role as the president of the International Golf Federation after winning her debut at the U.S. Senior Women’s Open Sunday. Sagstrom played under then Captain Sorenstam for the European side at the 2017 Solheim Cup, and the aura of Sorenstam’s most recent victory rubbed off on the 2020 Gainbridge LPGA Boca Rio champion.

“Having her [Sorenstam] as a resource and being able to call her a friend,” Sagstrom said, “it’s quite incredible since I grew up playing golf watching her. She’s like untouchable.”

Sagstrom credited strong ball-striking and a pristine short game for the bogey-free round in her Olympic debut. The 28-year-old liked the sightlines Kasumigaseki Country Club presented to her, giving a chance to keep her putter rolling.

“[I’m] very excited with the layout,” Sagstrom said. “It suits my eye, and the greens are rolling phenomenal, which works with my putting too. So it’s phenomenal.”

Nelly Korda maintains World No. 1 form

Mike Ehrmann
Nelly Korda is one back after posting a four-under 67 that eased her Olympic nerves.

The top American player in the world and recent winner of the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship put herself a shot off the lead with a four-under 67, putting herself in great position at the chance of matching Xander Schauffele and making it an American gold-medal sweep at the Tokyo Games. Following an up-and-down front nine with four birdies and two bogeys, Korda steadied herself for a clean closing side, posting two more birdies for a four-under 67 to sit tied for second.

Korda once again leaned on her father Petr Korda’s advice in her approach this week and how to handle the anticipation of playing in the Olympics. But ultimately she knew she needed to experience things on her own for the first time to be able to help with the emotions.

“I kind of think like by now this is my fifth year on tour that I would hopefully kind of know how to handle these situations,” Korda said. “You learn the most from your own experience, it’s really easy for someone else to tell you how it’s going to be or how you should handle situations, but everyone else handles situations differently.”

Lag putting was the lone blemish of Korda’s game Wednesday, as her first putts made Korda labor for pars at Kasumigaseki Country Club. She worked on her putting after cooling off following her post-round interview.

The rest of the U.S team is following Korda’s lead. Danielle Kang sits at two under in a tie for seventh, Jessica Korda finished T-23 at even par, and Lexi Thompson is T-36 at one over.

No. 200 sits T-2, but don’t be shocked

Mike Ehrmann
India’s Aditi Ashok is matching the impressive start to the Olympics she had in Rio in 2016, this time with her mum caddieing for her.

On paper, you wouldn’t expect Aditi Ashok of India to be in contention at the Olympics, the 23-year-old shooting a four-under 67 for a share of second place. She’s never won on the LPGA, and at 200th in the Rolex Rankings, she doesn’t hold a body of work of being in contention on tour. Before Ashok’s T-3 while playing with Pajaree Anannarukarn at the Dow Great Lakes Bay Invitational last month, her best finish on the LPGA was a T-6 at the 2018 Volunteers of America Classic. And while she has three titles on the Ladies European Tour, the most recent was four years ago at the 2017 Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Open.

But something about the Olympics seems to connect with Ashok. She was three behind the lead after the first round at Rio in 2016, and four back through the first 36 holes. The then 18-year-old inspired India with her Olympic play, driving people by the millions to Google for golf clubs. Her play shows the possibility of what being an Olympic sport can do for golf in a nation where the game has room for growth, and Ashok recognizes the potential she has to help inspire others.

“It’s important for little girls back home to have that image of a golfer internationally on the LPGA or at the Olympics,” Ashok said, “And not just participating but also kind of contending here and there.”

Outside of the experience that comes with age, the other big difference for Ashok this week is her caddie. Her father carried her bag in 2016, and her mom is caddieing this week.

Trying to beat the heat

Brendan Moran
Ireland’s Stephanie Meadow uses an umbrella to shelter from the heat during Round 1.

Getting around Kasumigaseki Country Club the past few days has been no easy accomplishment thanks to the stifling heat. While conditions were toasty during the men’s tournament, the heat index rose to a scalding 110 degrees during Round 1, forcing players to be conscious of staying hydrated and finding as much shade as they could between holes.

“You get so sick of water,” Nelly Korda said. “After [drinking a lot of water] I’m like, I don’t want to see water, give me some juice.”

The scorching heat may have been hardest on the caddies. U.S. Women’s Open champ Yuka Saso’s caddie Lionel Matichuk was rushed to the hospital during Tuesday’s practice round due to heatstroke. On Wednesday the heat nearly caused Lexi Thompson’s looper, Jack Fulghum, to pass out. He withdrew after the 15th hole after asking Thompson if he looked sick.

“He just asked me, ‘Do I look white to you?’” Thompson said. “And I’m like, I didn’t really notice, but, he just didn’t look good.”

Thompson told him to sit down for the rest of the way. Team USA assistant Donna Wilkins, who last played on the LPGA in 2006 and currently works for the tour as a director of player services, stepped up as Thompson’s caddie for the rest of the round. The 26-year-old birdied three of her last four holes to finish at one-over 72.

“The straps were a little off,” Wilkins said, “But it was all good. I was glad to be able to jump in and help.”

Mike Ehrmann
Donna Wilkins, an LPGA official, took over Thompson’s bag for the last three holes of Round 1.

It’s unclear if Wilkins, Fulghum or a local caddie will loop for Thompson in round two.

“I was so worried about him and, I mean, it’s so hot out there,” Thompson said. “I’m from Florida and I’m still not used to that bad of heat. But I just hope that he’s OK and he gets the hydration he needs, the nutrients tonight to go into the next few days. If not, I’ll figure something else out. I just want him to be healthy.”

Meanwhile, a different kind of weather may impact the remainder of the women’s golf competition. After play concluded, the Golf Channel reported that the International Golf Federation has sent a notice to players that due to heavy thunderstorms expected at Kasumigaseki Country Club Saturday and Sunday, the tournament may cut to 54 holes. Alternatively, there is the potential that golfers could play more than 18 holes on Thursday or Friday, but due to the unrelenting heat, the health officials are concerned about attempting that.

The post A Swede leads thanks to a GOAT’s inspiration, Nelly Korda eyes another American gold and stifling heat becomes an issue appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

By Shane Ryan
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — One of the most hard-hitting and important news stories in golf this past month has been the scandal known as Hat-Gate. As Golf Digest and others wrote last week, Rory McIlroy said he wasn’t wearing a hat at the Olympics because … well, his head is too small:

“My head is so small that I have to get Nike to make me custom hats,” McIlroy first told PGATour.com. “So whenever I’m in a team event and the hats aren’t custom, they’re all too big.”

The big question, then, became whether he’d wear one in September’s Ryder Cup at Whistling Straits—the next event in which team gear would override his bespoke Nike headgear. (He hasn’t worn at hat in past editions of the matches.) That question was asked Wednesday morning in Memphis, ahead of this week’s WGC-FedEx St. Jude Invitational, and contrary to what many might have expected, Rory’s head will NOT be exposed to the elements in Wisconsin.

“I wish I was wearing a hat last week, it was so hot and I probably needed a hat, and I had sun cream dripping into the eyes and squinting, so happy to have a hat back on my head this week,” he said. “I usually wear a hat when I’m at home playing. I just don’t want to look stupid with a hat that’s too big on me going to these team events. Ryder Cup Europe have assured me that the hats this year will be a good fit, so I’ll hopefully have a hat on my head for Whistling Straits.”

So there you have it: Unless there’s a major snafu in Team Europe’s wardrobe department, Rory will not be losing 90 percent of his body heat through his head in Wisconsin.

There’s another reason why he might want to put on the Team Europe cap, too, and it was highlighted by this exchange in Memphis:

Reporter: You’ve got those George Clooney flecks of gray now as well.

Rory: Hey, don’t even. Don’t go there, don’t go there.

That’s a brave reporter! Truth is, though, he’s right—Rory’s salt-and-pepper look does him no harm, even though it seems to be a sore point, maybe because he’s only 32 years old. Still, the Rory Hatless Era (RHE, in history textbooks to come) appears to be over. It was quite a ride, full of ups and downs, but from now on, he’ll be like the rest of his peers: fully be-hatted.

The post Worry no more, Rory McIlroy will be wearing a hat in the Ryder Cup appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

By Ryan Herrington
Lexi Thompson grew up in Florida, so the LPGA Tour pro knows from hot. But what she and the rest of the field faced on Wednesday at Kasumigaseki Country Club was a different level of heat.

Temperatures rose into the high 90s and the heat index reached 110 degrees. But the situation grew scary for Thompson on the 15th hole when her caddie, Jack Fulghum, approached her with an unusual question.

“He just asked me, ‘Do I look white to you?’” Thompson said. “And I’m like, I didn’t really notice, but, he just didn’t look good.”

Fulghum told Thompson that he felt like he was going to pass out. He took a seat behind the green as volunteers provided him ice packs to help him cool off. He was later treated with IV fluids for dehydration.

With Fulghum unable to continue, Donna Wilkins, LPGA player services director took over Thompson’s bag and caddied the last few holes. Thompson wound up birdieing three of her last four holes finish at one-over 72, six back of leader Madelene Sagstrom of Sweden.

“I was so worried about him and, I mean, it’s so hot out there. I’m from Florida and I’m still not used to that bad of heat. But I just hope that he’s OK and he gets the hydration he needs, the nutrients tonight to go into the next few days. If not, I’ll figure something else out. I just want him to be healthy.”

Mike Ehrmann
Donna Wilkins, an LPGA official, took over Thompson’s bag for the last three holes of Round 1.

Officials with Team USA said that Fulghum is re-cooperating well but it’s unclear whether when he will return to the bag for Thompson.

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As was the case with the men’s Olympic competition, International Golf Federation officials have appropriately given the honour of hitting the opening tee shot of the 2021 Olympic women’s golf tournament to a native of the host country.

Japan’s Mone Inami will be the first player off when the women’s event begins on Wednesday at Kasumigaseki Country Club at 7:30 a.m. local time (6:30 p.m. eastern time Wednesday in the U.S.). Inami will be playing in the threesome with Maria Fassi of Mexico and Albane Valenzuela of Switzerland. (Side note: You might recall that Sepp Straka was in the opening pairing of the men’s tournament and shot a 63 to take the early lead last week.)

There are several interesting pairings to follow, most notably the threesome of Inbee Park, Lydia Ko and Shanshan Feng that tees off on Day 1 at 7:25 p.m. Tuesday night U.S. time. The trio from South Korea, New Zealand and China won gold, silver and bronze at the 2016 Rio Games.

As for the four Americans competing in the women’s event, World No. 1 Nelly Korda tees off at 7:14 p.m. Wednesday night U.S. time (paired with Nasa Hataoka and Jin Young Ko), with Lexi Thompson following her at 7:25 p.m. (with Brooke Henderson and U.S. Women’s Open champ Yuka Saso). Jessica Korda tees off at 9:03 p.m. and Danielle Kang has a 9:36 p.m. tee time.

ANA Inspiration winner Patty Tavatanakit of Thailand and Amundi Evian Championship winner Minjee Lee of Australia are paired together along with 2020 AIG Women’s British Open winner Sophia Popov. They tee off at 9:14 p.m. Tuesday in the U.S.

Here are all the first and second round tee times at Kasumigaseki Country Club:

ROUND 1
First Tee

7:30 a.m./6:30 p.m.
Mone INAMI, Japan
Maria FASSI, Mexico
Albane VALENZUELA, Switzerland

7:41 a.m./6:41 p.m.
Kelly TAN, Malaysia
Alena SHARP, Canada
Anne VAN DAM, The Netherlands

7:52 a.m./6:52 p.m.
Leona MAGUIRE, Ireland
Bianca PAGDANGANAN, Philippines
Matilda CASTREN, Finland

8:03 a.m./7:03 p.m.
Mel REID, Great Britain
Caroline MASSON, Germany
Anna NORDQVIST, Sweden

8:14 a.m./7:14 p.m.
Nasa HATAOKA, Japan
Jin Young KO, South Korea
Nelly KORDA, USA

8:25 a.m./7:25 p.m.
Brooke HENDERSON, Canada
Lexi THOMPSON, USA
Yuka SASO, Philippines

8:41 a.m./7:41 p.m.
Inbee PARK, South Korea
Lydia KO, New Zealand
Shanshan FENG, China

8:52 a.m./7:52 p.m.
Sanna NUUTINEN, Finland
Maria TORRES, Puerto Rico
Tiffany CHAN, Hong Kong

9:03 a.m./8:03 p.m.
Klara SPILKOVA, Czech Republic
Manon DE ROEY, Belgium
Christine WOLF, Austria

9:14 a.m./8:14 p.m.
Maha HADDIOUI, Morocco
Lucrezia COLOMBOTTO ROSSO, Italy
Daniela DARQUEA, Ecuador

9:25 a.m./8:25 p.m.
Nanna KOERSTZ MADSEN, Denmark
Aditi ASHOK, India
Giulia MOLINARO, Italy

9:36 a.m./8:36 p.m.
Wei-Ling HSU, Chinese Taipei
Azahara MUNOZ, Spain
Jodi EWART SHADOFF, Great Britain

9:47 a.m./8:47 p.m.
Xiyu LIN, China
Emily Kristine PEDERSEN, Denmark
Madelene SAGSTROM, Sweden

10:03 a.m./9:03 p.m.
Jessica KORDA, USA
Celine BOUTIER, France
Gaby LOPEZ, Mexico Gaby Mexico

10:14 a.m./9:14 p.m.
Minjee LEE, Australia
Patty TAVATANAKIT, Thailand
Sophia POPOV, Germany

10:25 a.m./9:25 p.m.
Ariya JUTANUGARN, Thailand
Hyojoo KIM, South Korea
Carlota CIGANDA, Spain

10:36 a.m./9:36 p.m.
Danielle KANG, USA
Hannah GREEN, Australia
Sei Young KIM, South Korea

10:47 a.m./9:47 p.m.
Min LEE, Chinese Taipei
Stephanie MEADOW, Ireland
Perrine DELACOUR, France

10:58 a.m./9:58 p.m.
Mariajo URIBE, Colombia
Pia BABNIK, Slovenia
Magdalena SIMMERMACHER, Argentina

11:09 a.m./10:09 p.m.
Diksha DAGAR, India
Kim METRAUX, Switzerland
Tonje DAFFINRUD, Norway

ROUND 2
First Tee

7:30 a.m./6:30 p.m.
Nanna KOERSTZ MADSEN, Denmark
Aditi ASHOK, India
Giulia MOLINARO, Italy

7:41 a.m./6:41 p.m.
Wei-Ling HSU, Chinese Taipei
Azahara MUNOZ, Spain
Jodi EWART SHADOFF, Great Britain

7:52 a.m./6:52 p.m.
Xiyu LIN, China
Emily Kristine PEDERSEN, Denmark
Madelene SAGSTROM, Sweden

8:03 a.m./7:03 p.m.
Jessica KORDA, USA
Celine BOUTIER, France
Gaby LOPEZ, Mexico Gaby Mexico

8:14 a.m./7:14 p.m.
Minjee LEE, Australia
Patty TAVATANAKIT, Thailand
Sophia POPOV, Germany

8:25 a.m./7:25 p.m.
Ariya JUTANUGARN, Thailand
Hyojoo KIM, South Korea
Carlota CIGANDA, Spain

8:41 a.m./7:41 p.m.
Danielle KANG, USA
Hannah GREEN, Australia
Sei Young KIM, South Korea

8:52 a.m./7:52 p.m.
Min LEE, Chinese Taipei
Stephanie MEADOW, Ireland
Perrine DELACOUR, France

9:03 a.m./8:03 p.m.
Mariajo URIBE, Colombia
Pia BABNIK, Slovenia
Magdalena SIMMERMACHER, Argentina

9:14 a.m./8:14 p.m.
Diksha DAGAR, India
Kim METRAUX, Switzerland
Tonje DAFFINRUD, Norway

9:25 a.m./8:25 p.m.
Mone INAMI, Japan
Maria FASSI, Mexico
Albane VALENZUELA, Switzerland

9:36 a.m./8:36 p.m.
Kelly TAN, Malaysia
Alena SHARP, Canada
Anne VAN DAM, The Netherlands

9:47 a.m./8:47 p.m.
Leona MAGUIRE, Ireland
Bianca PAGDANGANAN, Philippines
Matilda CASTREN, Finland

10:03 a.m./9:03 p.m.
Mel REID, Great Britain
Caroline MASSON, Germany
Anna NORDQVIST, Sweden

10:14 a.m./9:14 p.m.
Nasa HATAOKA, Japan
Jin Young KO, South Korea
Nelly KORDA, USA

10:25 a.m./9:25 p.m.
Brooke HENDERSON, Canada
Lexi THOMPSON, USA
Yuka SASO, Philippines

10:36 a.m./9:36 p.m.
Inbee PARK, South Korea
Lydia KO, New Zealand
Shanshan FENG, China

10:47 a.m./9:47 p.m.
Sanna NUUTINEN, Finland
Maria TORRES, Puerto Rico
Tiffany CHAN, Hong Kong

10:58 a.m./9:58 p.m.
Klara SPILKOVA, Czech Republic
Manon DE ROEY, Belgium
Christine WOLF, Austria

11:09 a.m./10:09 p.m.
Maha HADDIOUI, Morocco
Lucrezia COLOMBOTTO ROSSO, Italy
Daniela DARQUEA, Ecuador

The post Tokyo Olympics women’s tee times: Starting times and pairings for the first and second rounds appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

By E. Michael Johnson
Although the birdie Xander Schauffele made on the short par-4 17th or the sporty up-and-down for par at the last will go down as the decisive margin, it was a bogey he made on a relatively easy par 5 that proved pivotal in his one-shot win over Rory Sabbatini of Slovakia to win the gold medal in the golf competition at the Tokyo Olympics.

Seemingly in control with a four-shot lead that had winnowed to one, Schauffele flared his tee shot on the par-5 14th at Kasumigaseki Golf Club into thick bushes and trees. Lucky to even find the ball, Schauffele took an unplayable lie penalty drop then was fortunate to knock the ball out from the trees. His fourth came up short of the green but he salvaged a much-needed bogey with a timely putt.

Schauffele’s Odyssey O-Works Red 7 CH mallet putter was a key element throughout the tournament. The club features a “crank” hosel, which Schauffele explained to Golf Digest last fall.

“The hosel is interesting,” he said. “It creates a little bit of toe hang whereas many mallets are face-balanced. It helps it swing the head a little easier. I’ve always wanted to be a blade guy but never really got into it. This putter is an old friend of mine that I got away from for a little bit but I’m glad it’s back on this journey with me. It almost swings itself and those two long white parallel lines in back kind of let you know when you’re not doing the right thing with your stroke and when you are.”

MORE: How Rory Sabbatini, born in South Africa and living in South Florida, won silver for … Slovakia

Schauffele also changed golf balls earlier this year at the Memorial, moving into Callaway’s new Chrome Soft X LS, a ball designed to lessen driver spin, which Schauffele was seeking. According to Callaway, Schauffele saw a 200 rpm drop in spin across the bag, giving him the spin window he was looking for—especially on the wedge into the final hole that hit and spun back close to the cup setting up the winning putt for the American.

What Xander Schauffele had in the bag at the Olympics
Ball: Callaway Chrome Soft X LS
Driver: Callaway Epic Speed (Graphite Design Tour AD BB 7x), 9 degrees
3-wood: Callaway Epic Speed, 15 degrees
7-wood: Callaway Mavrik Sub Zero, 20 degrees
Irons (4-PW): Callaway Apex TCB
Wedges: Callaway Jaws MD5 (52 degrees); Titleist Vokey SM6 (56 degrees); Titleist Vokey SM8 WedgeWorks (60 degrees)
Putter: Odyssey O-Works Red 7 CH

RELATED: Rory McIlroy says he’s ‘happy to be proven wrong’ about the Olympics

The post The clubs Xander Schauffele used to win the gold medal at the Olympics appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

By Alex Myers
When the parents of an Olympic athlete look at a child competing on the world’s biggest stage, they’re usually overtaken with pride. When Cameron Smith’s mom looks at him this week, though, she’ll be feeling something else as well.

Don’t get us wrong, Mrs. Smith must be overjoyed her son is an Olympian. After all, until a few years ago that wasn’t in the cards for golf parents. But there’s that whole mullet Cam has been rocking this year. What will the rest of the world think?! And now, it’s been given an Olympic twist.

Ahead of the Tokyo Games, the 27-year-old Aussie displayed his Olympic—and team—spirit by having the letters “AUS” carved into the side of his head. It’s quite a look. Especially when Cam shows it off with a dramatic turn toward the camera:

“I thought I would give Australia a shoutout on the side of the melon.”

“My mum called me up. She was laughing. She was like, oh, you were just on the news. Called me all sorts of names, but she loved it.”

Cam Smith always brings the laughs ? pic.twitter.com/EiItPUPOaM

— Golf Australia (@GolfAust) July 27, 2021

Wow. And we thought Rickie Fowler was into this event when he got a little tattoo.

Anyway, Smith talked about his new look on Wednesday and described getting a funny phone call from his mom.

“Yeah, I mean, it’s the Olympics. It doesn’t happen too often. I thought I would give Australia a shoutout on the side of the melon,” Smith said. “I mean, I thought about it for a few weeks beforehand and then I just said stuff it, I’m going to do it, and I think it’s been received pretty good. My mom called me up. She was laughing. She was like, oh, you were just on the news. Called me all sorts of names, but she loved it and she loves that it brings a lot of, I guess, joy to, it puts a smile on people’s faces, I think, she enjoys the most, so, yeah.”

OK, so it sounds like mom got into it. After the name-calling, that is. Wonder what she though of those gaudy green-and-yellow uniforms . . .

Anyway, does this mean teammate Marc Leishman going to get the same haircut?

“No, I don’t think I’ve got the head for it, to be honest,” Leishman said. “I’ll leave that to Cam.”

You can rest easy, Mrs. Leishman.

The post Cameron Smith says his mom called him “all sorts of names” after seeing Olympics twist to his mullet appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

By Daniel Rapaport
For most golfers, the Tokyo Olympics present a delightful change of pace. For one week every four years, they play not just for prize money and World Ranking points but national pride. They rub shoulders with the best track stars and basketball players and swimmers in the world. It’s the experience of a lifetime. All good stuff.

For Sungjae Im and Si-Woo Kim, however, it’s perhaps the most important golf tournament they’ll ever play.

As South Korean citizens, both Im and Kim are subject to mandatory military service. All able-bodied men are required to spend between 18 and 21 months serving their nation upon turning 19 years old, though it can be delayed for valid reasons such as studying or working abroad. Which, of course, Im and Kim are doing—both are PGA Tour winners ranked inside the top 60 in the world.

Still, they will eventually be required to put their golf careers on hold and enlist—unless they win a medal this week. The South Korean government provides exemptions for any athletes who wins a medal at the Olympics or a gold at the Asian Games. With the Asian Games golf competition being limited to amateurs, the Olympics present the only opportunity for Im, 23, and Kim, 26, to get their exemption. K.H. Lee and Sung Kang, both PGA Tour winners, won gold at the Asian Games before turning pro and thus do not have to serve.

“I know it’s true that if we earn a medal the Korean government will exempt us from serving military,” Kim told reporters Wednesday ahead of the opening round of the men’s tournament at Kasumigaseki Golf Club. “But I don’t really, like, focus or think about the service in the military. My only goal is to win the championship and get medal and be honoured.”

Im echoed a similar sentiment.

“Also, I only focus and think about winning games, not the military problem. So, yeah, that’s it.”

They’re clearly trying to treat this as just another tournament, so as to avoid putting too much pressure on themselves and having that impact their play. But one needs only to look at their recent schedule to understand just how significant this tournament is. Im and Kim both opted to skip the Open Championship, the year’s final major, in order to focus on the Olympics. Im flew from the U.S. to South Korea on July 14 and has been in Japan since July 23.

“I wanted to get used to the time difference between Japan and United States,” Im said, “so I went, I flew to Korea because the time difference, the time is the same here, so I made myself so comfortable and relaxed and prepared for the Olympic games.”l

Five years ago in Rio, Byeong-Hun An represented South Korea and finished T-11, thus failing to earn a medal and receive his exemption. An has yet to fulfill his service requirement, but two other prominent South Korean players have—Sangmoon Bae and Seung-yul Noh, who have both struggled significantly since returning to professional golf after a nearly two-year absence.

At 23, Im could potentially have multiple chances to earn an Olympic medal. The runner-up at last year’s Masters has just three top-10 finishes in 25 starts this year. Kim won his third PGA Tour title at The American Express in January but has just one top-10 finish in his last 12 starts.

The post At Olympics, Sungjae im and Si Woo Kim say they’re not thinking about ‘military problem’ appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.