Unlike world number three Jordan Spieth, who said earlier in the day that he agonised over his decision to withdraw from the Olympics, McIlroy said he was fully comfortable with his choice to opt out of golf’s Games comeback after a 112-year absence.
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“This was probably the hardest decision I’ve ever had to make in my life”, Spieth told a news conference ahead of the 145th British Open, which starts at Royal Troon on Thursday. “All of a sudden you get to this point and there is a responsibility on you to grow the game and I get that”. “At this stage in my career, I understand that it’s been tough scheduling, but when it’s once every four years, I think it’s something you can certainly make an exception for, and that’s been my attitude towards it”.
McIlroy adds he will probably watch events “like track and field, swimming, diving. the stuff that matters”.
But McIlroy, who only officially withdrew from the Olympics a few weeks ago, said the IGF gave him only a single urine test on the Friday of the U.S. Open (June 22).
“I think his comments are unacceptable, it think it’s a lack of appreciation for how the Olympics can just transcend an individual sport”.
The women’s event has seen only one frontline withdrawal in Lee-Anne Pace, an imbalance which has further exposed the top male golfers.
“This is a very selfish decision and I get that”. 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.
On the eve of the British Open, Rory McIlroy ripped the PGA and the sport of golf for subpar drug testing, electing to pull no punches when it came to how easy it could be to cheat and get away with it.
“I will continue to carry it with me through these Games and for a while I think”.
Bach said the Olympic tournament would be judged along with other sports.
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“This is going to be a very, very hard thing for me to do to watch the opening ceremonies and watch my peers compete for a gold medal. and watch people stand on the stage and hear the national anthem playing”, added Spieth. “I’m excited. It’ll be pretty special to be an Olympic athlete and get to walk in the opening ceremony and be part of the whole thing”, Fowler told PA. You look at the golf course, it’s obviously very close to the water down in old marshland. I know you had to make it just for you.
