Golf: Straka tops the field after round one – Tokyo 2020

At the Kasumigaseki Country Club, Straka initially made four birds on holes three through eight, and did the same from the thirteenth hole to the seventeenth hole.

The flawless performance of the world number 161 with his twin brother Sam on the bag. It was also noteworthy that the 28-year-old missed the cut on the PGA Tour on three consecutive weekends. But in Tokyo, there is no discount.

“Amazing experience”

“It was a great experience,” said Straka, who was delighted with the Olympic flair that was palpable despite the lack of spectators. “It is so great to be here. I had so much fun,” the Vienna native, who lives in the US, said in an interview with ORF. The 28-year-old commented mischievously that his lap was almost perfect – and there was room for improvement: My game was good. But there is no such thing as perfection in golf.”

It’s also only Thursday, so it’s the first of a total of four championship days. “You have to take it differently every day. The goal is of course a gold medal,” Strika said, giving a very clear motto.

Schwab plays two under par

While Straka was very satisfied with his first four match days and his great run, fellow Olympic Schwab – like Olympic debutante Straka – wasn’t flawless. Styrian played in the second set of the day immediately after Straka and initially made a motley nine with three birds and three bogeys. After that, things went even more aggressive and a hit win on 11 and 16 brought the 26-year-old into the Round of 69 (two under-level).

Schwab was satisfied with it. “It played relatively well, but also punctuated by some ‘non-forced fouls.’ The second nine was fine, you can build on that. Altogether, it was a solid lap.” The venue (“a pleasure”) and the Olympic Games in general are also popular with Schwab. But he especially lamented the lack of fans. “Pity. The Japanese are basically golf fanatics.”

With Wiesberger, the best Austrian golfers in the world decided not to take part in the games held in Japan. In 2016 when the sport returned to the Olympic program in Rio, Burgenlander came in 11th place. After the men’s, the women’s championship will follow in Tokyo next week, with the participation of Kirsten Wolff from Tyrol.