McIlroy, who rates the four Majors as more important, also questioned whether golf was doing enough to justify its Olympic status in terms of drug-testing.
Advertisement
“There are drugs that can make you stronger and make you concentrate more, but not that can make you a better all-round golfer, as far as I am aware”. “The stuff that matters“.
In his news conference on Tuesday, McIlroy also said he did not feel he was letting golf down by not playing in this year’s Rio Olympics, which will include golf for the first time since 1904. I got into golf to win championships and win majors.
“Based on that information I am not going to Rio with any real concerns”, she said. Given my biased-observer status, I took a completely unofficial survey of an extremely limited number of golfers at my local track, after which I reached the inescapable conclusion that this preposterous uproar over Rory McIlroy dissing the summer games is nothing more than a media creation. “I don’t think it would be appropriate given our decision on the Olympics”. Because I’m a huge believer in Olympic golf, ” Spieth said.
“The game is in a great state”, said defending British Open champion Zach Johnson, one of only two players outside the Fab Four to win at the last 10 major championships. I get that but at the same time, that’s not the reason that I got into golf.
“Do I think it looks bad on golf?”
It is not just about the Zika virus or security concerns or a crowded summer schedule with major championships squeezed together like passengers on a rush-hour subway vehicle. “The Claret Jug is something I’ve now held in my hands – I was with Zach the night that he won it previous year”, Spieth said.
“You can see when it’s flattened out, you can have a go at the golf course”, he said. But unlike gymnastics or swimming, the Olympics will never be the biggest event in the sport.
In an interview Wednesday, IOC President Thomas Bach said it would be better if the Rio lab were re-accredited, but added there were alternate plans.
“Yes, I can understand why people are skeptical, ” said Spieth, referencing his reasons for withdrawing.
Speaking to reporters before the British Open at Royal Troon, the world’s No. 3 player called himself “a huge believer in Olympic golf”. “I’m very happy with my decision and I have no regrets about it”. “We are relevant 24/7, 365 days of the year, if that’s your barometer and criteria, relevancy”.
The withdrawal of Spieth, who won the Masters and US Open a year ago, means that six of the world’s top 10 will not be at the Olympics, with Australia’s Adam Scott and South Africa’s Branden Grace also opting to miss out.
Advertisement
“I would say the [golfers are] skipping Rio rather than skipping the Olympics – that’s the way I’d like to frame it, ” Rose said. “I can tell you that I’m not specifically pinpointing any one thing in my health concerns, either”, he said. “I don’t know if there’s a ceiling, but if there is, it seems like it’s being nudged a little bit higher month after month, year after year”.
