Betting tips: Who wins in Rio?
The winner: Sergio Garcia
On the grounds that the Spaniard doesn’t have as much trouble winning when it isn’t a Major, Sergio Garcia could be claiming Olympic glory come Sunday night.
He missed the cut at the PGA but his form immediately before isn’t too shabby at all – tied 5th at the Open, T5 at the US Open and the winner of the Byron Nelson.
If he becomes anything like the whirlwind he is at the Ryder Cup, the patriotic player can get right into the Olympic fanfare and it should inspire him.
Although we don’t know too much about how the Rio course will play, its links characteristics, and the wind that has been a feature of the games so far, should be right up Garcia’s street.
Don’t discount Henrik Stenson, either.
The Open champion was right there at the end of the PGA and is in the kind of form that could easily see him bag gold.
At prices as short as 9/2, though, there is better value out there.
The each-way back: Justin Rose
Did anyone see how wide-eyed the Englishman was when he popped in to watch a bit of the swimming?
Rose has been excited about the prospects of Rio ever since it was announced that golf was going to be back in the games.
In sharp contrast to the apathy of some of his high-ranked colleagues, the former US Open champion has made no secret of his desire to grab gold.
Does he have the game to do it? It is only because he is yet to record a win this season that I’m suggesting he’s an each-way bet at 12s and not one to win.
Having shaken off a bad back, Rose has been steady if not spectacular – recording tied-22nd places at both the Open and the PGA.
That masks some decent stuff earlier in the campaign (3rd at Wells Fargo, T9 at the Arnold Palmer and T6 at Pebble Beach). If he can hole some putts – always an ‘if’ with Rose – then there’s no doubt he is a genuine medal contender.
The dark horse: Padraig Harrington
Forget that 75 in the final round of the Travelers Championship last week. Just put it out of your head altogether.
If you’ve done that, you’ll see the three-time Major winner is on a really encouraging run of form.
A third round 65 had set him up for a final day challenge at the Travelers and the 44-year-old was tied-13th at the PGA Championship at Baltusrol. Rounds of 71, 70, 65 and 68 were really encouraging and followed a solid, but unspectacular, week at Royal Troon.
As keen as Rose to drink in the Olympic experience, Harrington is in after Graeme McDowell and Rory McIlroy dropped out. At 50/1, he might just be starting to peak – right in time for Rio.
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Steve Carroll
A journalist for 25 years, Steve has been immersed in club golf for almost as long. A former club captain, he has passed the Level 3 Rules of Golf exam with distinction having attended the R&A's prestigious Tournament Administrators and Referees Seminar.
Steve has officiated at a host of high-profile tournaments, including Open Regional Qualifying, PGA Fourball Championship, English Men's Senior Amateur, and the North of England Amateur Championship. In 2023, he made his international debut as part of the team that refereed England vs Switzerland U16 girls.
A part of NCG's Top 100s panel, Steve has a particular love of links golf and is frantically trying to restore his single-figure handicap. He currently floats at around 11.
Steve plays at Close House, in Newcastle, and York GC, where he is a member of the club's matches and competitions committee and referees the annual 36-hole scratch York Rose Bowl.
Having studied history at Newcastle University, he became a journalist having passed his NTCJ exams at Darlington College of Technology.
What's in Steve's bag: TaylorMade Stealth 2 driver, 3-wood, and hybrids; TaylorMade Stealth 2 irons; TaylorMade Hi-Toe, Ping ChipR, Sik Putter.
