Australian duo Marc Leishman and Cameron Smith are due into Tokyo to prepare for the men’s Olympic golf competition that has been significantly reshaped in the wake of two Covid-19 withdrawals. 

World No. 1 Jon Rahm of Spain and world No. 6 Bryson DeChambeau both pulled out of the Games yesterday after testing positive to Covid-19 in their final protocols. 

Athletes coming to Tokyo were required to pass a series of Covid tests in the immediate lead-up to the Games. 

Rahm had previously tested positive more than a month ago and had to stand aside from golf, including withdrawing from a US Tour event in which he had a six-shot lead entering the final round. 

Masters champion Patrick Reed has replaced DeChambeau as the fourth American player in the field. Spain’s golf federation could not find a replacement for Rahm in the short amount of time allowed, so his spot will go to a player from another country. 

As for Leishman and Smith, they have spent some time at their US homes after the Open Championship at Royal St George’s, and they will join captain Ian Baker-Finch at the team headquarters in northern Tokyo later today ahead of Thursday’s first round.