As it fights for exposure in the shadows cast by the male superstars, the Olympic stage is plainly a huge opportunity for the women golfers.
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Spieth’s move follows announcements by three other top golfers – Jason Day, Justin Johnson and Rory McIlroy – who have all withdrawn from the Olympics over the past few weeks. Barring further defections, the USA will be represented by Bubba Watson, Fowler, Patrick Reed and Matt Kuchar.
Ty Votaw, the vice president of the International Golf Federation, said the deadline to commit for the American team is 5 p.m.at USOC headquarters in Colorado Springs, Colorado. He said that, “personally”, he had found the withdrawals an “overreaction”.
“I think I took an 8 or a 9 today, so that didn’t go too well”, he grinned.
“You’ve got more chance of getting malaria in South Africa than you have in getting Zika when you go to Rio”, Willett said Tuesday.
But McIlroy sees things differently.
“Why was it so hard?” he said.
“If golf wants to stay in the Olympics and wants to be seen as a mainstream sport as such it has to get in line with the rest of the sports that test more rigorously”.
“Initially, when he choose not to do that (play in the Olympics) he cited the Zika virus, but in effect today, he said I’m not going, I’m not playing, I’m not watching because it doesn’t matter”, Chamblee said. “This year I just had to try and weigh a risk that doesn’t present itself every year”.
The 27-year-old, four-time major victor will tee off in his first Open Championship since winning in 2014 on Thursday.
McIlroy withdrew from the Olympics in June citing concerns about the Zika virus.
“I texted Rickie immediately after I decided and said, “Rick, I’m sorry buddy, but I’m not going to be joining you down there”.
“I’ve just been excited, I can’t really explain from my point of view”.
His future will not include defending his title in the John Deere Classic, which will be played opposite of the men’s Olympic tournament August 11-14. I got into golf to win. “So I’m willing to take that little bit of risk that there is and go play”. “Then when I watch the guys competing on the golf course”.
As if to show he’s still as relevant as ever among golf’s elite players, even as he approaches the two-year mark since the last of his major titles, McIlroy pulled no punches Tuesday leading to the British Open at Royal Troon.
Speaking at a press conference to formally confirm his participation, the 2013 US Open champion said: “Do I feel like it’s nice to give back? Yes”.
“It will loom over me throughout the Olympic games, for sure”, he said.
“I didn’t get into golf to try and grow the game – I got into golf to win championships and win major championships”.
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Johnson has questioned the inclusion of golf, football and basketball in the Olympics, claiming that the Games are less important to those sports than other events such as Majors in golf, the World Cup in football and the National Basketball Association (NBA) league for basketball. I got into golf to win.
