The men are done, and it was a great duel between the two best players in the field — Justin Rose and Henrik Stenson.
Came down to the third shot on the final hole to decide the Gold.
It’s done, finished and Rose is basking in the reflection of his Gold Medal.
Now it’s the ladies’ turn.
Unlike the men, the best players women’s golf has to offer will tee it up starting Wednesday morning on Club Rio de Janeiro, aka, the course that Gil Hanse built that cost $25 million, money that a poor nation could have used elsewhere. But that’s another story.
The great thing about having the best women in the world playing this week is that we can basically trot out the usual suspects.
So without further delay, we present THE USUAL SUSPECTS, three of whom will probably find themselves on the medal podium come Saturday.
LYDIA KO: All things begin with the world’s No. 1. Justin Rose won last week because he was the best ball-striker. He hit the most greens and hit the big shot there at the end when it was needed most. Ko is your basis doomsday ball-striking machine. She is comfortable on the big stage, isn’t bothered by the moment. Has a great chance to have the Gold around her neck.
ARIYA JUTANUGARN: Best player in the world who doesn’t carry a driver. She has the ability to really score low around this layout with the short par 4s and reachable par fives. She has become comfortable with the pressure of being a great player. She’s moved up to No. 2 and certainly has as good a chance as Ko to win the GOLD.
BROOKE HENDERSON: Nobody doesn’t like Sara Lee and same for Henderson. She’s a firecracker, plays with passion and fans dig the long ball. She can hit it past most of them. She is Canada’s best and only hope for a medal in this tournament.
LEXI THOMPSON: It’s all on you, Lexi. If the Americans are going to get a medal, it’s all on you. The only problem is that putter of hers. Can’t rely on it. Still, maybe she can pull a Matt Kuchar and sneak in with a bronze.
INBEE PARK: Inbee says she’s about 80 percent healthy. Her thumb has been the problem this season. But she can’t be feeling too bad, she made a hole-in-one this week in practice.
SEI YOUNG KIM: That’s S.Y. for short. You know the Korean players will be highly motivated for this competition. An Olympic medal will translate to huge endorsement money back home in South Korea.
Okay, enough of The Usual Suspects.
How about some darkhorse candidates for a medal?
CATRIONA MATTHEW: If ball striking is important, you have to give the 46-year-old from Great Britain a chance. She has to be excited because of her age, this may be her first and last appearance in the Olympic Games. Don’t be shocked if she hangs around the leaders.
STACY LEWIS: You notice she wasn’t up there among the Usual Suspects. Stacy went off and got married a couple of weeks back, so as a newly-wed, you wouldn’t expect she’s been spending that much time practicing.
GERINA PILLER: The talking heads keep telling us she will win one of these days. She would be a huge surprise if she came through and won a medal, any medal.
AMY YANG: Has the talent but can she handle the pressure of the big stage?
That should give you enough to ponder.
The good news is that the Gold Medalist will have beaten the best the women have to offer.
You can’t say that for the men.
