With this week marking golf's return to the Olympic Games, following an 112 year absence, EuropeanTour.com's statistics guru puts the spotlight on three players he thinks could claim the podium spots in Rio.
Gold: Martin Kaymer
View Player Profile
Many experts are tipping Martin Kaymer for Olympic success and it's clear to see why. The German has five top ten finishes in his last ten events and is on the bubble for a place in Darren Clarke's European Ryder Cup team. Both of Kaymer's Major successes came on testing, rolling courses with shaved run off areas in Whistling Straits and Pinehurst, layouts similar in style to this week's Rio Olympic Course. The 31 year old has picked up titles all across the globe throughout his career, winning in Abu Dhabi, France, Germany, Scotland, America, the Netherlands and China, and will be keen to add Brazil to that list this week. Kaymer has spoken of his keen desire to represent Germany at the Olympics for months leading up to the event and looks primed to make a charge for a gold medal this weekend.
Silver: Søren Kjeldsen
View Player Profile
Denmark's Søren Kjeldsen has won five times as a professional but there is no doubt an Olympic medal would rank near the top of the achievements in his 21-year career. Top ten finishes at the Masters and Open Championship have Kjeldsen in contention for a debut appearance at The Ryder Cup and the layout this week in Rio plays to the 41 year old's strengths. Not overly long, the Gil Hanse-designed Rio Olympic Course has something of a links feel to it and will challenge players in and around the greens with a premium on a sharp short game. Few players on Tour possess a more consistent wedge and short game than Kjeldsen, whose notable recent performances have come on links style courses.
Bronze: Grégory Bourdy
View Player Profile
Gregory Bourdy is another name trending well ahead of golf's return to the Olympics. The 34 year old Frenchman has six top 25 finishes in his last seven starts including the US Open and US PGA Championship, with a further six top 25s earlier in the season. Currently 23rd in the Race to Dubai, Bourdy is enjoying one of the best years of his career and ranks in the top five on Tour in Stroke Average among those who've played more than 50 rounds. His game is known for its consistency from tee to green, ranking in the top 40 on Tour in both Driving Accuracy and Greens in Regulation in each of the last four seasons.
