Tokyo 2020 Olympics: The scene is set for the final round, the players are ready and history will be made

Olympic Golf has had its detractors ever since the announcement in 2009 that it would return to the Olympic Games, but once again when the world was watching, the sport has delivered.

SAITAMA, JAPAN - JULY 31: View of the 18th green from the stands during the third round of the Men’s Individual Stroke Play event on Day 11 of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics at the Kasumigaseki Country Club on July 31, 2021 in Saitama, Japan. (Photo by Ben Jared/PGA TOUR/IGF)

5 years ago in Rio we were treated to an epic head-to-head between Justin Rose and the 2016 Open Champion, Henrik Stenson. Rose edged out the mighty Swede for a dramatic win, and Matt Kuchar shot a final round of 63 to surge through the field and claim Bronze.

It was a thriller, the kind of tournament which shows everything that is great about our game.

Now this week we have been given a tournament which has players from 10 countries in contention for the medals, maybe more. Great Britain could successfully defend the Gold Medal, with both Paul Casey and Tommy Fleetwood in contention.

Rory McIlroy could add to his career resume with an Olympic Gold Medal, and his countryman Shane Lowry could back up his Open title in 2019 with glory in Tokyo.

Carlos Ortiz, Sepp Straka or Sebastian Munoz could produce a surprise win and spark a golfing boom in their home nation.

The leader Xander Schauffele could underline America's current dominance of the game of golf with a first American Gold Medal in golf.

But the story, no doubt is Japan's Hideki Matsuyama.

The 2021 Masters Champion launched his career 11 years ago on the West Course at Kasumigaseki with victory in the Asian Amateur Championship. That win got him into the 2011 Masters Tournament, where he would win the Silver Cup as low amateur.

Matsuyama has gone on to forge the greatest worldwide career of any Japanese male golfer, with 6 PGA Tour wins including 2 World Golf Championships, and of course, the Masters this April.

Olympic Gold would surely secure his place in the history of Japanese sport and the Player of the Year honours on the PGA Tour.

We are surely set for a sizzling Sunday in Saitama near Tokyo.

The Game St Andrews gave to the world, on the world stage.

Key tee-times:

0247 BST 1047 JST Mito Pereira, Sepp Straka, TOMMY FLEETWOOD

0258 BST 1058 JST Carlos Ortiz, Sebastian Munoz, Rory McIlroy

0309 BST 1109 JST Xander Schauffele, Hideki Matsuyama, PAUL CASEY

Live coverage is available NOW on GOLFTV, discovery+, Eurosport 3 and BBC One (at some point, time not confirmed)

SHANK will have regular commentary, news and leaderboard updates throughout the night and reaction following the completion of play.

SHANK, by Matt Hooper