The Co. Down native, who withdrew from the Olympics last month over fears about Zika and didn’t mince his words yesterday when he spoke about golf at the Rio Olympics, has also had a few words to say about the sport’s drug testing regime.
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Young guns Jason Day, Dustin Johnson, Jordan Spieth and Rory McIlroy were unable to find their “A games” and were eclipsed by “golden oldie” Phil Mickelson who powered to the top of the Royal Troon leaderboard with an eight-under 63.
LONDON: Some male golfers are using the Zika virus as an excuse for missing the Rio Olympics when really the big-money majors matter more to them, Britain’s five-time rowing gold medallist Steve Redgrave said on Tuesday. It’s nothing you can work on, I don’t think.
“I feel like I’ve done everything but win it over the last four years and it’s just the last little hurdle we’ve got to get over”.
He also said he would not watch the Olympic golf on television, choosing to only watch “the stuff that matters”.
Golf’s rule-makers have dismissed Rory McIlroy’s claim that the sport lags behind others at the Olympics when it comes to anti-doping.
While the men’s event has been hit by a host of pull-outs, New Zealand’s Lydia Ko – current world No. 1 – will lead an nearly full-strength lineup as golf makes it’s return to the Olympics for the first time since 1904.
The reason you’re an asshole, McIlroy, is because if someone (or, more accurately, many someones) isn’t out there being an effective ambassador for golf, growing the game or at least keeping it even with inflation, then suddenly, there ARE NO CHAMPIONSHIPS FOR YOU TO WIN. “Obviously, I feel like I do my bit to grow the game”.
“One of the main categories of the evaluation is, of course, the question of participation of the best players”.
The 26-year-old feels the authorities should have discussed golf’s comeback after a 112-year absence and suggested a different approach. Or at least, no championships that allow you to golf for a living instead of something you do when you get time off work at the engine plant. You have Zika in America in some states right now.
“I’m very happy with the decision I made”.
“I’m excited to be here, I love playing links golf and it’s time to start to playing a little better”.
“At one point during winter I think there were six fairways completely under water”, said Martin Slumbers, who succeeded Peter Dawson as the chief executive of the R&A.
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“But moving into the future, we certainly hope that the International Olympic Committee may look at restructuring their decision, making a process to include sports which truly wants to be there”, he added. “And if I’m going to miss greens, I’m going to miss greens on hard days, and if I can just grind myself out and make pars, it would be great”.
