SAITAMA, (JAPAN) — (Source: Official Team release and Staff Reporting) – For the USA Basketball program, it was an Olympic Games where two goals were met.

For the men, it was a journey.

For the women, it was perfection.

Reaching a goal, a gold, or perfection is hard to achieve once, much less five or even seven times, marking decades at the highest level of international competition.

But for Sue Bird and Diana Taurasi, Sunday at the Tokyo Olympics marked a perfect ending to an unblemished career with the U.S. Olympic Women’s Basketball Team (6-0).

The dynamic backcourt duo made Olympic history by winning their fifth gold medal as the top-ranked Americans won their team-sport record-tying seventh straight gold with a 90-75 triumph over Japan (4-2) at the Saitama Super Arena, near Tokyo, Japan.

“No, not in my wildest dreams,” Bird said of if she ever thought of winning five gold medals. “That’s what makes it even more special. I never thought it was a possibility.”

Added Taurasi: “We were just asked, ‘What did you think in 2004 when you won your first one?’ I thought that was our last one. Fast-forward 17 years and to be able to do this five times, I think it’s a testament to USA Basketball culture, the great players we played with, coaches and staff. There’s a lot of people to thank today.”

Brittney Griner is among those people. The 6-foot-8 post player scored 30 points — a record for an American in a gold-medal game — for the U.S., which exploited its size advantage time and again. The silver is the first medal Japan has won in five Olympic appearances.

“It means a lot to me,” Griner said of her second Olympic gold medal. “A lot of people have put in a lot of hard work and dedication to get here, to get us to seven. And just to be a part of that, I’m honored.”

In addition to winning gold for the ninth time in 11 Olympic trips, it was the 55th consecutive Olympic victory for the U.S., with 38 of those coming with Bird and Taurasi on the roster. Delayed a year by the COVID-19 pandemic, Bird, 40, has said Tokyo was her last Olympics, while Taurasi, 39, has not made it official but has dealt with injuries in recent years, including her hip in the Olympics.

Bird and Taurasi broke a tie with four-time gold medalists Teresa Edwards (1984-2000, one bronze), Lisa Leslie (1996-2008) and Tamika Catchings (2004-16) and joined Edwards as the only five-time Olympic medalists in Olympic basketball history regardless of gender. Sylvia Fowles, 35, who became part of the Olympic team in the cycle after Bird and Taurasi, joined the exclusive four-gold club.

“Somewhat the same,” Fowles said of how she views her most recent piece of history, “but humbling at the same time, just to see yourself go through that switch of being the youngest and turn into a veteran and having the younger players under you come in and having to talk more and all those good things. I can say it definitely has been a whirlwind.”

The U.S. matched the record of seven straight golds in any Olympic team sport set by U.S. Olympic Men’s Basketball Teams, a streak that started with the debut of the sport in 1936 through 1968.

It also was the swan song for Carol Callan, director of the USA Basketball Women’s National Team program since its inception in 1995. She is stepping down to focus on her role as president of FIBA Americas.

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SAITAMA JAPAN – (SOURCE: Official Team News Release) – Three players in the NBA Finals. Two more who had to leave the team during training camp. Two exhibition defeats. One Olympic loss. Countless doubters. Four weeks after the U.S. Olympic Men’s Basketball Team partially came together for the first time as a team, all that adversity did was make what transpired Saturday at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 all the more special.

With Kevin Durant scoring 29 points, including two free throws with 8.8 seconds left to seal the win, the U.S. (5-1) won its fourth consecutive gold medal, fending off France (5-1) 87-82 at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan. The Americans now have 16 golds from the 19 Olympics in which they have participated.

Durant has played a major role in each of the last three golds, and he’s now tied with Carmelo Anthony for the most gold medals in Olympic men’s basketball history. The Brooklyn Nets’ superstar scored 30 points in each of the prior two gold medal games.

“I hate to compare stuff because you know everything is its own moment,” Durant said, “but this is one of those special journeys that it’s just hard to describe, because each and every one of us put in that work every single day, from the coaches, to the trainers, to the players. We all came in with that goal of, ‘Let’s finish this thing off. Let’s build a family. Let’s build this team. Let’s grow this team every day.’ And when you are part of a team that’s evolving by the second, it’s just amazing to see.”

For U.S. coach Gregg Popovich, one of only five coaches with five NBA championships, the Olympic gold medal fills one of the few voids on his long resume. As a player for the U.S. Air Force Academy, he did not make the 1972 U.S. Olympic team that controversially lost to the Soviet Union in the gold-medal game.

“You know what sayonara means? That’s how I’m feeling right now,” Popovich joked before turning serious. “I agree with these guys. Every championship is special, and the group you’re with is special. But I can be honest and say this is the most responsibility I’ve ever felt, because you’re playing for so many people that are watching and for your country and other countries involved. The responsibility was awesome, and I felt it every day for several years now. I’m feeling pretty light now and looking forward to getting back to the hotel and having something.”

Popovich likely will celebrate back at the team hotel with Jerry Colangelo, whose run as managing director of the USA Basketball Men’s National Team program ended with Saturday’s victory. He took the position in 2005 after the Americans lost three times and earned bronze at the 2004 Athens Olympics. Colangelo was the architect behind these four consecutive Olympic golds and two FIBA World Cup titles.

Milwaukee Bucks teammates Jrue Holiday and Khris Middleton, who joined the Olympic team in the early-morning hours before the U.S. played France in pool play on July 25, became the fourth and fifth players to win the NBA Finals and an Olympic gold in the same year (joining Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen and Kyrie Irving). Devin Booker of the Phoenix Suns also played in the NBA Finals shortly before flying to Tokyo.

“Getting in at one in the morning, me, Book and Khris, and then playing that night against France, losing that game and then being able to go through the rest of the tournament and then winning the gold medal game,” Holiday said of his whirlwind summer, “I don’t know — I guess me thinking about it, and me telling that story, man, that’s a hell of a summer.”

Jayson Tatum had 19 points and seven rebounds, while Holiday added 11 points and five rebounds and Damian Lillard had 11 points for the U.S. Rudy Gobert had 16 points and eight rebounds and Evan Fournier also had 16 points for France, which won its third silver medal in 10 Olympic appearances. The French also won silver in 1948 and 2000.

The 32-year-old Durant became the career U.S. Olympic scoring leader and the first American to score at least 100 points in three separate Olympic Games.

“Kevin Durant is exactly who we thought he was — one of the greatest players who ever played this game,” U.S. forward Draymond Green said of his former Golden State Warriors teammate. “One of the most special guys you’ve ever seen lace their shoes up and take a basketball court.”

Added an emotional Colangelo: “He’s a very special guy. He loves the game, he loves USA Basketball, and he’s just got that kind of character.”

As if the gold medal wasn’t enough motivation, the Americans also wanted to show their loss in the pool-play opener to France was due more to coming together swiftly after a delayed NBA season than a true representation of their talent. In that 83-76 loss on July 25, the U.S. lost a late seven-point lead and watched France close the game on a 16-2 run to snap the Americans’ 25-game Olympic winning streak.

“I remember we had a team meeting after the first game against France, Pop wasn’t there,” Durant said of the game in which he scored only 10 points and was in foul trouble. “You know when you have a team meeting, you’re kind of at the bottom. So, we just worked our way up from there. Everybody just committed to doing what’s best for the group, no matter what. It was just amazing to see that clock run down to zero and us celebrate like that and then celebrate in the locker room. It was just incredible, man.”

Durant’s leadership is what sets him apart, Popovich said.

“KD is not special because he’s so talented,” he said. “The way he works on his game is more impressive, the relationships he builds with teammates, the respect he garners, the joy he has in playing. It’s like osmosis, it goes into all the other players and allows you to develop a camaraderie and an enjoyment to be together. That sort of love of the game and love of people is what makes him more special than as a player.”

There were the usual ups and downs in the gold medal game. The U.S. had another slow start, but quickly righted itself with a 16-6 run to close the first quarter up 22-18. Unlike the last two contests, the Americans did not fall into a double-digit hole, instead going up by as many as 13 points before settling for a 44-39 halftime advantage. The U.S. led 71-57 in the third quarter, before France’s Nicolas Batum hit a 3-pointer followed by another at the buzzer by teammate Thomas Heurtel that trimmed the margin to 71-63.

It set up a fourth quarter that was eerily reminiscent of the previous matchup. This time, however, the U.S. was a more cohesive unit and didn’t go cold down the stretch, even when France pulled within 85-82 on two Nando de Colo free throws with 10.2 seconds remaining.

Durant made his two free throws with 8.8 seconds left, and then Batum air balled a 3-pointer that set off a gold medal celebration.

JaVale McGee, named to the U.S. roster when Bradley Beal and Kevin Love had to withdraw, joins a unique group. His mother, Pamela McGee, won gold with the U.S. women’s basketball team at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics. They became the first American mother-son duo to win gold in any sport and the second in Olympic history. The other was Valentina Rastvorova (team foil fencing, 1960) and son Yevgeny Grishin (men’s water polo, 1980).

Delayed a year by the COVID-19 pandemic and facing adversity throughout this journey, the Americans relish this gold medal as much as any NBA championship.

“It’s great,” Green said. “It’s a challenge to do special things. I know it seems as if it’s come easy for so long. I played in 2016, it wasn’t easy then. It wasn’t easy this year, but nothing special, nothing is worth having that you don’t have to fight for. If it’s worth having, you got to fight for it. We fought. They fought. I think the better team came out the gold medalist.”

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SAITAMA, JAPAN – (Source: Official USA Basketball News Release) – Just one more victory, and the U.S. Olympic Women’s Basketball Team will secure its place in history, and a couple individuals will put a final stamp on their international legacies.

Embed from Getty Images

Behind double-doubles from Brittney Griner and Breanna Stewart, the U.S. (5-0) displayed dominant defense in stopping Serbia (3-2) 79-59 in Friday’s Olympic semifinal game at Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan.

Up next is going for a seventh straight gold medal, a feat accomplished by just one other team in Olympic history in any sport. The U.S. will take on either France (2-2) or host Japan (3-1) in the gold medal game, which is Saturday at 10:30 p.m. (EDT) (11:30 a.m. on Sunday morning in Japan). The U.S. edged both teams in pool play.

Diana Taurasi and Sue Bird also could claim their own spot in the record books. The American backcourt duo could win a fifth gold medal, which would give them the most golds of any basketball player in Olympic history. They currently share the mark of four golds with Teresa Edwards , who played for the U.S. in five Olympics from 1984-2000 and also won a bronze.

The U.S. women would match the U.S. Olympic Men’s Basketball Team’s streak of seven golds in a row, accomplished by winning the first seven golds (1936-1968) after the sport’s Olympic debut.

Friday’s win over Serbia was not one that will hang in the Louvre. The Americans shot 48.4% and committed 17 turnovers to just 12 for Serbia. But the U.S. defense picked up the slack, holding Serbia — which won bronze in 2016 at Rio in the country’s Olympic debut — to 30.2% shooting.

Griner had 15 points and 12 rebounds, Stewart 12 points and 10 boards, and Chelsea Gray added 14 points for the U.S.

“It wasn’t our best overall performance,” USA coach Dawn Staley said. “I thought we did a tremendous job defensively, just making it really hard for the Serbian team to get off clean looks. Offensively, I just thought we put enough points on the scoreboard to win. It wasn’t as clean and fluid as we would like, but at this stage of the game, you’re going to have to win a lot of different ways, and we found a way to win.”

Playing in a tough group might have been the best way for the U.S. to prepare for the knockout round. The U.S., France and Japan, three of the four semifinalists, all played in the same group, with Japan beating France in pool play.

“I think since we entered the knockout rounds, we’ve come to each game with a little more focus, so you’re seeing the results,” said Bird, who had eight points and four assists.

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TOKYO – (Source: USA Basketball Official News) – It was a battle of basketball titans, playing on the biggest of international stages, and during the first half of Tuesday’s semifinal at the Tokyo Olympic Games, the U.S. Olympic men’s basketball team (3-1) and Spain (2-2) danced with each other, felt each other out and landed significant blows each way.

Like a lengthy prize fight, it was the top-ranked Americans who quickly landed the haymaker in the third quarter. There was no standing eight count, but the second-ranked Spaniards were staggered. By hitting five 3-pointers and not allowing Spain to make a field goal for almost six minutes to begin the second half, the U.S. advanced to the Olympic semifinals with a 95-81 victory on Tuesday at Saitama Super Arena.

The U.S., three-time defending gold medalist and winner of 15 golds in 18 trips to the Olympics leading up to Tokyo, will face either Australia or Argentina in Thursday’s semifinals. The U.S. is 8-0 against Australia and 7-1 vs. Argentina in Olympic play.

Kevin Durant scored 13 of his 29 points in the third quarter, hitting two early 3-pointers to open the second half, and he lead five Americans in double figures. Jayson Tatum had 10 of his 13 points in the fourth quarter to help put Spain away, while Jrue Holiday added 12 points, Damian Lillard 11 and Zach LaVine 10 points. The Americans improved to 13-0 versus Spain in Olympic action.

“The game is about buckets,” Durant said. “When you see the ball go in the rim, everybody’s got more energy — coaches, players, trainers, everybody. We started making shots, made some 3s, and guys calmed down and made some stops.”

Ricky Rubio dazzled for Spain, scoring 38 points for the 2019 FIBA World Cup champions and the team the U.S. has beaten in two of the past three Olympic gold-medal games. Sergio Rodriguez added 16 points, and Willy Hernangomez 10 points and 10 rebounds for Spain.

“I didn’t expect anything less,” said Holiday, a premier defender often tasked with trying to slow Rubio down. “Ever since he (Ricky) was, what, like 12, he’s been doing this. So for him to come out here and just display the type of talent that he has is really cool to be a part of and to see.”

For part of the second quarter, it looked like Rubio and Spain — which featured two five-time Olympians — might have the right formula to take down the Americans, who have repeatedly started slow in these Olympics.

Seven straight U.S. misses sparked a 10-0 Spain run that made it 39-29 with 3:25 left in the half. But Durant, a two-time gold medalist who passed Carmelo Anthony to become the top American scorer in men’s Olympic history on Sunday, triggered a 14-4 run to close the half and tie the game 43-43. The U.S. was just 4-for-17 from 3-point range in the first half.

“They played with extreme energy to start the game, and we were a little sluggish,” Durant said. “We didn’t shoot the ball well, and that kind of affected our defense a bit. But we got into it at the end of the second quarter and were able to get stops, get some scores and battle and try to get some momentum. In that third quarter, we knew exactly what we needed to do.”

And that was landing a decisive blow.

Durant hit a pair of quick 3-pointers and the Americans connected on five of their first six shots from deep in the third period. Meanwhile, the U.S. defense kept Spain from a field goal for the opening 5:44 of the half. The result was a 22-6 run that turned a tied game into a 65-49 U.S. advantage. Combined with the closing run of the first half, it was a 36-10 burst to take control.

Following a rare Olympic loss to France (3-0) to begin the tournament, the U.S. has steadily looked better and better in its last three games. The team might be finding the right elements needed to create chemistry at just the right time for a sqaud that expects nothing less than gold.

“I think the potential of this team is endless,” said U.S. forward Draymond Green, who had four points and two assists. “Unfortunately, we (only) got two games left. So, we need to make sure that we’re continuing to get better each and every time we step on the floor, and I think that’s why we’ve done it.”

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Fond Memories from Olympic Games Past

By TERRY LYONS

BOSTON – It was one of those pictures that damn near jumped off the wall of the Main Press Center in Sydney, Australia on the second day of the Games of the XXVII Olympiad. I had to have a copy. In fact, I needed two – one for Australian basketballer, Andrew Gaze, and one to be a keeper.

There is no higher honor in all of sport. To carry your country’s flag into the Olympic Stadium during Opening Ceremonies is the most significant treasure any sportsman (or woman) can ever imagine. When asked to do so on your home soil when your native land is hosting the Olympic Games takes it up another notch.

Every year there are MVPs named, Cy Young Awards awarded, and Hall of Famers enshrined. Once every four years, a player is asked by his fellow Olympic teammates to represent their country and be their flag-bearer. It doesn’t get any better or heavier.

Wizards forward Rui Hachimura of Japan had the honor this year as he led Team Japan into the Olympic Stadium, albeit a year later than planned.

Sue Bird of USA Basketball, along with baseball’s Eddy Alvarez had the honor for the USA just a week ago. The Tokyo Olympic organizers asked that both a male and female athlete be so designated by each country, when possible. Bird is in pursuit of her fifth gold medal for the Team USA women, and she, along with fellow-WNBAer star Diana Taurasi have walked the walk for women’s basketball and sports all over the world everyday of their careers.

Australia’s Patty Mills (aka FIBA Patty) had the honor for the Boomers this year, as did Tomas Satoransky of the Czech Republic.

Back in 2004, in Athens, Greece, Dawn Staley of USA Basketball had the honor of leading in Team USA at a memorable Olympics. Quite a few other NBA/Basketball connections have shared the honor over the years of this reporter’s attendance at the Summer Games. In 2008, when the Olympic Games were in Beijing, there was Yao Ming, all 7-foot-6 of him, carrying the Chinese flag into the Olympic Stadium only 758 miles from his hometown of Shanghai.

Pau Gasol of Spain (2012 in London), Dirk Nowitzki of Germany (2008 Beijing), Yi Jianlian of China (2012 in London) and Manu Ginobili of Argentina (2008 in Beijing) each had the honor, as did Utah Jazz standout Andrei Kirilenko of Russia (2008 in Beijing), Luis Scola of Argentina (2016 in Rio) and Puerto Rico’s Carlos Arroyo (2004 in Athens). Arroyo proceeded to light-up Team USA the next day.

The sport of basketball has been well-represented over the years. But, it was a moment frozen in time at the Sydney 2000 Olympics that tops this column of Olympic memories.

Upon seeing the Agence France Presse photo pinned-up on the outside wall of their office cubicles in downtown Sydney, this American flak wanted to get the photo into the hands of Andrew Gaze, who was staying at The Olympic Village just outside of the city. I asked AFP photographers – Jeff Haynes and Robert Sullivan – if they could bang out a couple prints overnight and I promised to hand-deliver them to Gaze with their regards.

Next stop was the Australia and USA (then USOC) media offices to get a special day pass and “interview” request arranged to see Gaze in the Olympic Village. It took a few hours, but the system worked like a Swiss timepiece and the next morning I was on a bus, package in hand, riding out to the village on a (very) hot Athens morning.

Upon meeting Gaze at our designated spot – he was just finishing an interview with Mike Wise of the New York Times – we sat down at a table (in the shade) and the Australian all-time leader in points scored – second in the Olympic scoring, only to Brazil’s Oscar Schmidt – asked me what I needed.

“This is the easiest interview you’ll do all Olympics, because we don’t need anything. In fact, I just have a present for you!”

Gaze looked on in curiosity and amazement. The AFP crew had packed the 11×16 photos very carefully and reinforced the edges so they would not bend in transit. we also grabbed a couple strong cardboard tubes to secure them for travel home. Inside the packages were the prints of Gaze waving the flag. Even though they were still photos, you could see a little motion to the flag and a look of pure pride and joy on Gaze’s face. They were spectacular.

Upon carefully pulling them out of their package, he saw the photo and his jaw dropped. No words were spoken and tears welled in two sets of eyes. The silence was, indeed, golden.

When the San Antonio Spurs won the NBA title in 1999, Gaze was on their roster as a reserve. When the Spurs won the title, he grabbed me on the court in sheer celebration and damn near broke my back with a hug as he lifted me into the air above the court at Madison Square Garden.

This time, I knew what was coming, and it was still a back-breaker of a hug. With it? A look of sincere appreciation from an Olympian who had the highest honor in sports the night before and now had the perfect keepsake to show his grand-kids, all made possible by the great photographers at AFP and a simple bus ride from the Paramatta, in the outskirts of Sydney to the Main Press Center to the Olympic Village in Sydney.

Time well spent.

HERE NOW, SOME MORE OLYMPIC MEMORIES: Last week, “While We’re Young (Ideas)” touched upon Olympic memories dating back to 1968 or 1972, among others. One of the fondest memories of Olympic Games Past was the very start, an April 1989 vote undertaken by FIBA’s World Congress. For that vote, we were fully aware the United States and Russia were both voting against the proposition of NBA players being made eligible for the Worlds (1990) and the next Olympic Games (1992). FIBA’s executive director and head honcho, the late Boris Stankovic, assured NBA Commissioner, the late David Stern and his deputy, Russ Granik, that the vote would be overwhelmingly supportive of NBA inclusion. But, truth be told, the 1986 FIBA vote went 31-27 against the inclusion of NBA players and you just didn’t know what to expect. … While the great Oscar Schmidt of Brazil could play and make millions in Italy then return to his beloved national team for international competition or the late Drazen Petrovic of Croatia could earn a cool $800-to-900 thousand a year playing for Real Madrid of Spain’s pro league- the ACB, then compete for Yugoslavia (1990) or Croatia (1992) in international play, it was only the 425+ NBA players who were singled out and ineligible to play. … The NBA was not invited to the 1989 vote, but we had a man on the inside in Turner senior executive, David Raith, who headed-up the Goodwill Games unit for Turner Sports. A small handful of us gathered in the NBA Commissioner’s office and Raith relayed the vote totals to me and we kept tally on a white board in Stern’s office. The final count? Yays outnumbered Nays, 56-13, with only Greece refusing to vote. Stankovic was right again, as he righted the wrong and paved the way for the sport of basketball to take a giant leap by 1992.

Stern quickly placed Granik in charge of the negotiations and the NBA, FIBA, and ABA/USA (the United States’ basketball federation) quickly decided to keep the plans for the “college kids” to rep the USA at the 1990 Worlds. By the way, Coach Mike Krzyzewski’s USA world team (6-2) took the bronze after losses to both Puerto Rico and Yugoslavia. It was the last basketball tournament when the Provences of the former Yugoslavia competed as one and they won the gold.

The 1992 Barcelona Olympics “got” next!

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SAITAMA – (Source: Tokyo Olympic Organizing Committee (Golf)) – While one swing by American Xander Schauffele nearly changed the dynamics of the men’s golf tournament Sunday at Kasumigaseki Country Club, it was the (61) strokes of eventual silver medalist Rory Sabbatini, representing Slovakia, that really shook the leaderboard and the chase for Olympic glory. Schauffele ultimately emerged the winner on this hot, sunny day, clinching his golden moment with one final, gutsy par-save on the final hole for a 4-under par 67 and 18-under total. But it took the mental resilience he said came by way of his upbringing, fostered by a father of German-French descent and Chinese Taipei mother who was raised in Japan. Consider it a respectful nod to the culture of the host country, where his grandparents still live.

Schauffele remained undeterred through a scoring assault that was unfolding ahead, led by Sabbatini’s brilliant record-setting round (61) that concluded more than an hour ahead of him. In fact, the perfect scoring conditions led to a seven-player elimination for the bronze medal, which was finally decided on the fourth extra hole with C.T. Pan of Chinese Taipei beating Collin Morikawa of the USA with a par 4 on No. 18. Both had matched the former Olympic record of (63) Sunday to get into the playoff.

The star-packed field of seven for the sudden death determination of the Bronze medalist that included Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama (who shot 67), Paul Casey of Great Britain (68), Rory McIlroy of N. Ireland (67), Mito Pereira of Chile (67) and Sebastián Muñoz of Colombia (67). It was so large, it required splitting into two groups.

Matsuyama and Casey were eliminated first, followed by Muñoz, then Pereira and McIlroy. “I was not able to deliver the performance I was hoping for,” Matsuyama said. ”At the same time, the positive is that I was able to contend. At one point of the round, there was a moment where I could potentially catch up and move past the leaders. But I just was not able to put it together at the end. There are somethings that I’ve identified that I need to work on, which I hope to work on moving forward.”

Morikawa bogeyed the final hole after his approach to the 18th green plugged in the steep upslope of the fronting bunker. C.T. Pan sank a par-saving putt for the medal.

Tokyo Olympics Medals:

Gold – Xander Schauffele (USA) 68-63-68-67—266 (-18)

Silver – Rory Sabbatini (Slovakia) 69-67-70-61—267 (-17)

Bronze *C.T. Pan (Chinese Taipei) 74-66-66-63—269 (-15)

*Won a seven-player sudden death playoff on 4th Hole

Olympic Golf @OlympicGolf

A dramatic finish. This is what the #Olympics is about. Xander Schauffele #USA Rory Sabbatini #SVK C.T. Pan #TPE #Olympics #Golf #Tokyo2020

August 1st 2021

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SAITAMA – Xander Schauffele of the USA leads hometown favorite Hideki Matsuyama after 54 holes in the men’s Olympic golf competition at Kasumigaseki Country Club. Schauffele followed his torrid second round (63) by shooting 35-33-(68) in R-3 with five scattered birdies along with a bogey on each side.

Japan’s Matsuyama made seven straight pars on the back nine Saturday before breaking the par-streak with a much-needed birdie on No. 17. He had bogeyed No. 1 but played well to stand one off the lead.

South Korea’s Sungjae Im had the best round of the day, shooting (63) and is T-17.

The English pair of Tommy Fleetwood (64) and Paul Casey (66) (competing as Great Britain) moved into contention Saturday. Casey stands at (-12) and is T-3 heading into Sunday’s final round while Fleetwood moved up 15 places and is (-10) and T-9.

First round leader Sepp Straka of Austria shot a (68) and remains in medal contention T-5 at (-11).

Olympic Leaderboard After 54 Holes (Partial Scores):

Xander Schauffele (USA) 68-63-68—199 (-14)

Hideki Matsuyama (Japan) 69-64-67—200 (-13)

Paul Casey (Great Britain) 67-68-66—201 (-12)

Carlos Ortiz (Mexico) 65-67-69—201 (-12)

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Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama bounced back nicely from his opening round (69) and was six-under on his round through 16 holes. He stands (-8) and T-3 with three other players, including 18-hole leader Straka. Although there are no spectators allowed on the ground, reports show at least 100 people following Matsuyama around on the course, many credentialed volunteers along with media/photographers.

Mito Pereira of Chile, who shot a 65 in R-2 and is T-3, attended Texas Tech. Previously on the Korn Ferry Tour, Pereira recently won his second and third events of the 2020-21 season, to earn an immediate and automatic promotion to the PGA Tour. Over the past two weeks, he T-5 at the Barbosol Championship and T-6 at the 3M Open.

Rory McIlroy is not wearing a hat, as he usually does on the PGA Tour circuit, and it’s the talk of the sport. Why the change to “no hat?” “My head is so small that I have to get Nike to make me custom hats,” McIlroy told PGATour(dot)com. “So whenever I’m in a team event and the hats aren’t custom, they’re all too big.”

Olympic Leaderboard After 36 Holes (Partial Scores):

Xander Schauffele (USA) – 68-63—131 (-11)

Carlos Ortiz (Mexico) – 65-67—132 (-10)

Mito Pereira (Chile) – 69-65—134 (-8)

Alex Noren (Sweden) – 67-67—134 (-8)

Sepp Straka (Austria) – 63-71—134 (-8)

*Hideki Matsuyama Japan 69-x (-8 thru 16)

Weather Note: Stormy weather delayed the men’s golf tournament at the Tokyo Olympics. Due to dangerous weather (lightning) in the Saitama, Japan area, the second round was suspended at 5:20 pm (local). The second round will resume at 7:45 am Saturday (local time). Third-round tee times will be approximately 9:30-11:18 am (local) off the 1st and 10th tees in threesomes. Play suspended with 16 players set to finish round Saturday morning.

Third-round weather report is calling for some isolated thunderstorms with high humidity (91%) in the morning dropping to (56%) by 4:00pm (local). Saturday temperatures will range from 77-degrees (F) to 88-degrees by 4:00pm.

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SAITAMA – Sepp Straka became first Austrian-born player to earn his PGA Tour card in 2019. He played a bogey-free R-1 with four birdies on each side, shooting 32-31-(63). He was born in Vienna but his moved to Valdosta, Georgia, (USA) with his Austrian father and American mother when he was 14 but still stays connected to Austria. Both Sepp and his twin brother, Sam, played golf at the University of Georgia. Sam is carrying his brother’s bag at the Olympics.

Straka MTC on six of his last seven PGA Tour starts.

Jazz Janewattananond of Thailand shot a bogey-free 33-31-(64) with seven birdies on the Kasumigaseki Country Club’s East Course. The 25-year-old, currently ranked 150 in the world, won his first Asian Tour title at the 2017 Bashundhara Bangladesh Open.

Thomas Pieters of Belgium carded his 35-30-(65) with a bogey-free round which included an eagle and four birdies (three of them on back nine).

Patrick Reed, the late replacement for the USA when Bryson DeChambeautested COVID-19+, and Xander Schauffele are currently the Americans in best position. Reed shot 33-35-(68) and Schauffele shot 34-34-(68). They’re T-12 with six other players.

American Collin Morikawa (T-20) shot two-under (69) and is among 11 players six strokes off the lead. Morikawa is coming off his major victory at The Open a couple weeks ago. Justin Thomas (USA) shot (71), even par for the day and is T-41 in the field of 60 players.

Olympic Leaderboard After 18 Holes:

Sepp Straka (Austria) – 63

Jazz Janewattananond (Thailand) – 64

Thomas Pieters (Belgium) – 65

Carlos Ortiz (Mexico) – 65

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Men’s Golf Preview at the Tokyo Olympic Games

COURSE: Kasumigaseki Country Club (East Course)

LOCATION: Saitama, Japan

ARCHITECT(S): Tom and Logan Fazio, redesign 2016

YARDAGE: 7,447

PAR: 71

DEFENDING OLYMPIC CHAMPION: Justin Rose (GBR), Gold Medal, 2016

SOCIAL MEDIA: #OlympicGames #Olympics @OlympicGolf #Tokyo2020

OFFICIAL SITE: International Golf Federation (link)

Olympic Golf Tournament Format

The Olympic golf competition consists of a 72-hole individual stroke play tournament for men’s and women’s events (four rounds scheduled over four consecutive days). Scores are cumulative from round to round. The players with the lowest aggregate scores will be awarded the gold, silver and bronze medals respectively.

There are 60 players each in the men’s and women’s events for a total of 120 athletes.

There is no cut.

If necessary, playoffs shall be on a hole-by-hole basis immediately following the conclusion of the final round, or on the following day if the IGF chief referee determines that darkness, weather or other conditions preclude conducting a playoff on the day of the final round. The play-off shall commence on a sequence of holes as approved by the IGF Chief Referee and identified prior to the competition beginning.

If two players are tied for the first position, a play-off will be conducted to determine the gold and silver medals. If three or more players are tied for the first position, a playoff will be conducted to determine the gold, silver and bronze medals. If two or more players are tied for the second position, a playoff will be conducted to determine the silver and bronze medals. If two or more players are tied for the third position, a play-off will be conducted for the bronze medal. In any case, only one gold, one silver and one bronze medal will be awarded.

Gold, silver and bronze medals are the prizes for Olympic success. There is no prize money awarded.

The tournament is considered an official event on the PGA’s European Tour and a victory calls for full status. The winner of the tournament receives a one-year exemption into the major championships and the PGA Tour Players Championship.

How to Watch

TV COVERAGE: NBC Sports has exclusive US rights to the Tokyo Olympics. Since the Golf Channel is owned and operated by NBC, the sport of Olympic Golf will air on Golf Channel, live in the USA.

(Broadcast times converted to (EDT)

Wednesday, July 28: 6:30pm (EDT) to Thursday 3:00am (EDT) – Golf Channel

Thursday, July 29: 6:30pm (EDT) to Friday 3:00am (EDT) – Golf Channel

Friday, July 30: 6:30pm (EDT) to Saturday 3:00am (EDT) – Golf Channel

Saturday, July 31: 6:30pm (EDT) to Sunday 3:30am (EDT) – Golf Channel

Field Update, Tee Times, Leaderboard

Bryson DeChambeau (USA)/out – Patrick Reed (USA)/in

Jon Rahm (ESP)/out – Jorge Campillo (ESP)/in

Field of Olympians: (link)

Tee Times: (link)

Leaderboard: (link)

Tee Times are local. Saitama, Japan is 13 hours ahead of (EDT).

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