Tokyo Olympics: Men's golf preview

The United States will send a star-studded group of Justin Thomas, reigning Open champion Collin Morikawa, Xander Schauffele, and Bryson DeChambeau to the Tokyo Olympics. All of them rank inside the top six in the world.

Jon Rahm, Rory McIlroy, and Masters champion Hideki Matsuyama will also compete for the gold medal.

The golf event, which is a standard 72-hole stroke play with players competing as individuals, runs from July 29 to Aug. 1. For North American viewers, the tournament starts on the evening of July 28 due to the time difference.

Odds to win gold

Here's the complete list of Olympian golfers hailing from 36 different countries (world rank as of July 20):

United States 🇺🇸

Electing to skip: Dustin Johnson

Team note: The U.S. is the only team sending four golfers to Tokyo, which is the maximum number allowed if all players are inside the top 15 in the world ranking. Each golfer will make their Olympic debut. Matt Kuchar claimed a bronze medal for the Americans in 2016 in Rio de Janeiro.

Canada 🇨🇦

Team note: Conners and Hughes will represent Canada for the first time after Graham DeLaet and David Hearn did so in 2016. Before golf returned to the Olympics for the Rio Games, Canada was the defending gold medal winner thanks to George Lyon's victory at the 1904 Olympics.

Great Britain 🇬🇧

Electing to skip: Tyrrell Hatton, Matthew Fitzpatrick, Lee Westwood

Team note: After three qualified players withdrew from consideration, Fleetwood will join Casey in Great Britain's attempt to defend Justin Rose's gold medal.

Spain 🇪🇸

Electing to skip: Sergio Garcia, Rafa Cabrera Bello

Team note: World No. 1 Rahm partners with the European Tour's Arnaus for a formidable duo of bombers. Fresh off his U.S. Open victory, Rahm is the clear favorite to win the gold medal.

Ireland 🇮🇪

Team note: Given the option to represent Great Britain or Ireland, Northern Ireland's McIlroy will play under the Irish flag alongside reigning Open champion Lowry. McIlroy elected to skip the 2016 Rio Games due to concerns with the Zika virus.

Japan 🇯🇵

Team note: All eyes will be on Matsuyama, as the green jacket winner will compete on home soil with Hoshino, who recently placed T26 at the U.S. Open. If Matsuyama can win the Masters and a gold medal in the same year, he'll go down as a legend in Japanese sporting history.

Australia 🇦🇺

Electing to skip: Adam Scott

Team note: Unfortunately for the Aussies, Olympic golf is not a team event. Smith and Leishman won the PGA TOUR's Zurich Classic together in May but will compete against each other in Tokyo.

Mexico 🇲🇽

South Korea 🇰🇷

Team note: This is a huge stage for both golfers, as a medal of any kind will allow them to skip the otherwise mandatory two years of military service imposed by South Korea.

Italy 🇮🇹

Norway 🇳🇴

South Africa 🇿🇦

Electing to skip: Louis Oosthuizen

Team note: Higgo will have the chance to turn more heads as he headlines the South African team following Oosthuizen's decision to skip the Olympics. Higgo, 22, won the Palmetto Championship in only his second PGA TOUR start.

France 🇫🇷

Chile 🇨🇱

Team note: Niemann will join forces with Pereira, who recently received a promotion to the PGA TOUR with three victories on the Korn Ferry Tour.

Belgium 🇧🇪

Sweden 🇸🇪

Team note: Henrik Stenson, the 2016 silver medalist, failed to qualify.

Austria 🇦🇹

Electing to skip: Bernd Wiesberger

Finland 🇫🇮

Denmark 🇩🇰

Argentina 🇦🇷

Colombia 🇨🇴

Thailand 🇹🇭

Venezuela 🇻🇪

Slovakia 🇸🇰

Team note: Sabbatini, the former South African, will finally accomplish his dream of competing in the Olympics after becoming a Slovakian citizen in 2019.

New Zealand 🇳🇿

Chinese Taipei

Poland 🇵🇱

Germany 🇩🇪

Electing to skip: Martin Kaymer

Philippines 🇵🇭

Czech Republic 🇨🇿

Zimbabwe 🇿🇼

Paraguay 🇵🇾

Puerto Rico 🇵🇷

Malaysia 🇲🇾

China 🇨🇳

India 🇮🇳