“I don’t think it would be appropriate given our decision on the Olympics”. I don’t feel like I have to carry the torch – see what I did there? – for the sport or anyone else.
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“I guess it’s the start of a new chapter for me in the Open Championship”, he added.
“I’m very happy with the decision I’ve made, I have no regrets about it”.
“He was incredibly close and I’m incredibly proud of him for the way he raced”, she said. “I would hope the International Olympic Committee would definitely reconsider and look at some other options going forward”.
But world number three Jordan Spieth, the most recent player to pull out of the Games in Rio de Janeiro, struck a more conciliatory tone.
“I crave to have that trophy in my possession and to reach the third leg of the grand slam this week would be a fantastic achievement and life-long goal”, said Spieth.
Rickie Fowler wants to change Rory McIlroy’s viewing habits with his performance in golf’s controversial return to the Olympics in Rio next month.
“While it has always been a major goal to compete in the Olympics on behalf of my country, playing golf can not take precedent over the safety of our family”.
“I’ve received a lot of help from many different organisations within the game, and it doesn’t take much to give back in certain ways, and I always try to do my fair share”. “I would like to point out that I didn’t start training in the US with an American coach a month before this situation turned out the way it did”.
“I can tell you that I’m not specifically pinpointing any one thing in my health concerns either”, Spieth continued. But you’ve got to respect their position.
Rory McIlroy at yesterday’s practice at Royal Troon. McIlroy goes on to say he didn’t become a golfer “to grow the game” – one of the reasons often cited by boosters of Olympic golf as a reason to support their efforts. I feel like my game has been quite consistent apart from 2013, where I didn’t play that well and it’s probably the only time in the last six years I’ve dropped outside the top 10 in the world.
“And I get that”. McIlroy says he’s “very comfortable” with his decision not to go to Rio. Squash was one of the sports that lost out to golf in the bidding for an Olympic place, and English player Laura Massaro said the lack of appreciation for the Olympics by some golfers was “unacceptable”.
Which events will he watch?
“[I will] probably watch the events like track and field, swimming, diving; the stuff that matters“.
It has been 66 years since anyone but an American won won an Open at Troon.
Spieth’s stock has risen sharply in the past year after he won the Masters and U.S. Open and made a spirited run at the Grand Slam. Since then it’s been Arnold Palmer in ’62, Tom Weiskopf in ’73, Tom Watson in ’82, Mark Calcavecchia in ’89, Justin Leonard in ’97 and Todd Hamilton in 2004.
“I didn’t cite that, so please don’t do that for me”, added Spieth. But even Spieth knows that won’t happen.
“The Claret Jug is something I’ve held in my hands”, said Spieth, who was on the plane back home from St. Andrews a year ago with Zach Johnson, who won the Open. I’m obviously going to be rooting for you, bud’. “But I do look forward to going back there”.
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“I told him he had to do what was best for himself”, Fowler added after giving a lesson to schoolchildren at Troon as part of the HSBC Hour, which offers an hour of free golf to children and their families at nearly 300 golf clubs across the UK. I don’t know. But I love this style of golf.
