Team GB’s Paul Casey, Tommy Fleetwood having a blast in Tokyo, both in contention to medal

One would be hard pressed to find anyone who has enjoyed the Olympic experience more than Paul Casey.

Well, OK, maybe Tommy Fleetwood has.

The teammates for Team Great Britain haven’t stopped smiling, feeling patriotic and enjoying all things Olympics since landing in Tokyo for the Summer Games.

Fleetwood, for instance, tweeted out “I love the (bleeping) Olympics.”

“From the moment I put a shirt on in my garage at home to getting on the flight to arriving here to being around the village, I think all of it is a, for one, it’s a very special experience, but I think being surrounded by all the athletes that put so much into this on a daily basis throughout their lives, I think it’s inspirational,” Fleetwood said. “I’ve loved every minute.”

And boy, did Team GB have a day on a hot, sunlit, windless Saturday on the rain-softened East Course at Kasumigaseki Country Club in Saitama, about 35 miles northwest of downtown Tokyo. With both inspired by countryman Justin Rose, who won the gold medal in the 2016 Rio Summer Games when golf returned to the Olympics for the first time in more than a century, Fleetwood and Casey enhanced their bold bids to earn a medal of their own.

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Fleetwood, ranked 34th in the world, made seven birdies in a nine-hole stretch and ended with another red number en route to the lowest round of the day, a 7-under-par 64. Casey, ranked 22nd in the world, birdied four of his first seven holes and came home with birdies on his last two holes for a 66.

Casey stood at 12 under, Fleetwood at 10 under through 54 holes on the crowded leaderboard. USA’s Xander Schauffele leads at 14 under after a 68. At 13 under is Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama (67). Joining Casey at 12 under is Mexico’s Carlos Ortiz (69). Four players are 11 under, including Ireland’s Rory McIlroy (67).

Casey will play in the final group. He said the two are technically defending the gold medal and feels passion and pride when he dons the colors of Great Britain.

“I couldn’t think of anything greater than winning a gold medal as a golfer,” he said. “We’ll see what pans out as I come down the last sort of few holes. But as I stand here right now I’m only thinking about one thing.”

That would be winning gold.

Fleetwood has a chance after he finally found some momentum.

“That’s the lowest round I’ve had for a very long time, really, and I think sort of got to take that back with me and think about that and draw on that,” Fleetwood said. “Just got on a run and that was great, and it was nice to come down the stretch feeling like constantly giving myself chances and moving up the board.

“We all know what places matter this week, so it’s nice to actually be within touching distance.”

Even if neither earns a place on the podium, they won’t go home empty handed.

“There’s so much to take from the Olympics,” Fleetwood said. “I love sport, I love the people that put everything into everyday life to try and be here and they get one shot every four years, five years, and it’s just been really, really good.

“We’re kind of in awe of all the other athletes and respect what they do so much and kind of supporting them the whole way. One of the things I’ve enjoyed most is either sitting on the bus to the Team GB Lodge or sitting in the dining and just rattling off conversations about what they’re doing and how they’re feeling.”

Added Casey: “Whatever’s happened in the world over the last 18 months, for all the debate on whether the Olympics should be on or not, if you’re inside that village, without a doubt there is nothing that means more to these people than competing this week and I think it’s very special.

“It’s been better than I could have imagined. I didn’t know what to expect in terms of village life and that kind of stuff. The professionalism of Team GB, I’m blown away by. Just how, also how nice everybody is. I mean it’s like the athletes are under serious pressure and it’s just a whole bunch of smiles and great people. Even with success and disappointment. It’s beyond what I could have imagined, and it’s motivated me, it’s inspired me, I’ve made new friends already.

“It’s already been a win. I just hope it’s a really big win tomorrow.”