But with a month left until the Rio Games, Park said the condition of her thumb had got “much better”.
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Spieth joins a long list of top players who have backed out of golf’s return to the Games. Golf is guaranteed a spot in the Olympics only through the 2020 Tokyo Games.
Spieth’s decision to pull out of the Rio Games, citing concerns over the Zika virus, follows similar moves in recent weeks by fellow stars Rory McIlroy, Jason Day and Dustin Johnson.
South African Lee-Anne Pace is the only woman who has opted not to compete. He will be replaced by Matt Kuchar.
Now that the participants have been set, golf’s immediate plan is to showcase the sport in its best light. “But we do understand why these individual decisions have been taken”.
‘I think I should say now that I don’t think it’s appropriate for us to discuss individual cases, especially as they’re generally decisions have been taken on health grounds.
The world No. 2 had been undecided on the Olympics, but on Monday before the British Open at Royal Troon he announced that he would not compete. When he finished, he went back toward the gallery to sign autographs, then left on the other side of the green toward the parking lot. “Probably not. I don’t train my whole life to play in the Olympics like some of those athletes, but now that it has presented itself, it is something very significant I’d love to be a part of”.
Golfers aren’t the only ones skipping the Olympics over Zika concerns, but they seem to be the largest group.
Wang’s agency, ISM Asia, said the golfer hadn’t been informed of the news as of Monday afternoon Korea time since he’s staying in Britain to get ready for this week’s Open Championship.
Losing the top four could be a big setback for men’s golf and its bid to stay in the Olympics.
What makes these announcements sting a bit more is this is the first time golf’s been an Olympic sport since 1904.
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And IGF executive director Anthony Scanlan said TV numbers and news and social media coverage would be among the leading indicators the International Olympic Committee uses to determine what happens to each sport, or event, in post-Rio evaluations.
