Golf starts early this week as a select field of 60 compete for Olympic Golf at the treacherous Kasumigaseki’s East Course.

The usual Thursday evening PGA Tour start has been replaced by a bright-and-early 8:30am for us here on the east coast of Australia, with coverage scheduled all day on 7Mate. 

Even if you aren’t putting any bets on, it’s a great chance to sit back and watch some golf, one of the few sports left  where all the state-sponsored doping/cheating in the world can’t help athletes stiff a 3-Iron to 4ft. 

The Course

Say what you want about the Japanese, but sweet jebus can they produce a flyover!

Not much else needs to be said, the course is tree lined off the tee and looks like favouring guys with a natural fade. 

Ball striking looks the premium, it does not look like a particularly difficult course until you get off the fairway then the trees will really be causing punchouts. 

The Weather

Looks good. Little rain tomorrow arv but not a lot of wind and with this small field they should be mostly done by 2pm.

The Card

This is a no-cut so all 60 players will get four rounds in. We’re really hoping Morikawa has left his putter in England because if he putts well he will win this by 5 shots minimum. 

• Marc Leishman Outright EW @ 34-1, FRL EW @ 26-1

Yes he snapped his putter at The Open but you’d snap it too if you had 36 putts on Day 1 and carded a 75! 

Leish was striping it and he knew it, that’s why the putter turned into two putters half way through the front nine on Friday, because he knew he’d let a real chance to contend go by – he did manage a -3 67 on Friday despite putting with the edge of his sand iron, so whilst his MC looks like poor form, it could easily be taken as the exact opposite. 

Gets the Deki marquee grouping too, I don’t usually take Leishman but there is a lot to like about his form. 

• Christiaan Bezeidenhout Outright EW @ 36-1, FRL EW @ 26.00

Course that rewards accurate approach shots and deadly putting – that is Bez. Will find it hard if his driver is wayward but if it is on song he will contend here. 

• Mito Pereira Outright EW @ 101-1, FRL EW @ 41-1

Ball striking has been amazing last three starts, gained across the board at the 3M Open for a T6. In good form at a great price. 

• Gavin Green Outright EW @ 401-1, FRL EW @ 141-1

Do NOT look at Greens recent form. Just don’t. It makes Morrisons vaccine rollout look good. But this is a 60-man field in a no-cut and miracles happen at the Olympics. Green will need more luck than Bradbury on recent form but it is getting gradually less shit. Green is an 8 time Euro winner and former Asian #1 who just needs to see a few birdies drop early to start his resurgence. 

European Tour – ISPS Handa World Invitational

Will definitely be betting this event but not a lot in the opening round because not only does this event see both men and women competing (think similar to Vic Open), the first two days will be played across two courses.

Galgorm Castle Golf Club and Massereene Golf Club in Northern Ireland share hosting duties this week and the latter looks a lot softer than the former a fact that books seldom take into account during these split course events. 

If you like a player and they are playing Massereene on day 1, bet them now. If they are playing Galgorm then it may pay just to hold fire, as they will get their turn Friday to even the ledger likely at inflated odds. 

Sarah Kemp, Callum Hill and Masahiro Kawamura are all playing Galgorm tomorrow, but Pep Angles is going off late (after the rain hopefully) on Massereene at 200-1 which looks too juicy to pass up.

Players like Mina Harigae and Sara-Jane Smith are both in great spots in terms of the tee / course draw in the women’s event so ofcourse they go in as well.

Enjoy a big weekend of golf, keep an eye out on our twitter page for any Euro golfers we pick up Friday morning and/or any Olympic Golf 3-balls for Round 2!