Golf returns Thursday to the Olympics for the first time since 1904, and the U.S. has four great players vying for a chance to stand on the podium.
The tournament will be played on specially built and named Olympics Golf Course, a 7,128 yard, par-71 layout on a former sand quarry along saltwater marshes and lagoons. Course designer Gil Hanse and consultant Amy Alcott faced the challenge of creating an Olympic test that the public could play once the Games are concluded.
MORE: Summer Olympics logos | Rio events TV schedule for Wednesday
Officials have decided to forgo rough for the tournament, leaving wide fairways with the hope that wind will be a primary defense. If breezes remain flat, many of the world’s best golfers will be licking their chops this weekend.
Though some of the game's best decided to stay home this week, the Olympics still encouraged a strong field. British Open winner Henrik Stenson leads the way with Spaniard Sergio Garcia seeking glory, too.
The American quartet is led by Bubba Watson, but he has been out of form since spring. With four straight top-13 finishes, Patrick Reed heads to Rio in the best form out of the bunch. Rickie Fowler will also be dangerous.
Just to clear things up, this is not a team competition. It is an individual 72-hole stroke-play event. If you didn't know that, don't worry, Matt Kuchar just found out last week.
MORE: 31 greatest American Olympians | What is that on the course?
Here are the top players competing at the Olympics this week:
Henrik Stenson (world No. 5) — After becoming the first Swede to win a major championship this summer, Stenson will look to build on his historic season with a gold medal. He's in form, but his high ball flight could be an issue if the swirling winds are strong.
Sergio Garcia (11) — It seems as if Garcia is America's fifth player. Many American golf fans are rooting for Garcia — a player who still has yet to win a major — to finally pull off winning a big event. We still don't know what a gold medal will mean in golf history — compared to the majors or the Players — but Garcia would surely be happy with the breakthrough.
Rickie Fowler (8) — Despite playing uninspired golf since May, Fowler is one of the favorites this week. Something usually clicks for him when he's wearing red, white and blue. Expect the same this week.
Martin Kaymer (50) — Germany's Kaymer has been a top-10 monster lately. Normally a mercurial presence on leaderboards, he has four top 10s in his last seven starts worldwide. His putting has been much improved during that stretch.
Patrick Reed (14) — Reed has done just about everything but win this season. With four runner-up finishes and a host of other close calls, he is due for a big win. Like Fowler, Reed thrives in Team USA colors and will be determined to bring home gold.
Other contenders:
Danny Willett (Great Britain), Justin Rose (Great Britain), Watson (USA), Kuchar (USA), Emiliano Grillo (Argentina), Rafa Cabrera-Bello (Spain), Nicolas Colsaerts (Belgium)
Podium Prediction:
Gold: Patrick Reed
Silver: Emiliano Grillo
Bronze: Sergio Garcia