Speaking a day after Jordan Spieth became the latest high-profile golfer to withdraw from the Rio de Janeiro Games, Willett says it’s been a “tough decision” but that “you don’t know how many times you will be in the Olympics, if it will be in the Olympics again”.
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The world’s third-ranked golfer joins a list which includes top-ranked Jason Day of Australia, second-ranked Dustin Johnson and fourth-ranked Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland, among others, of players skipping the Rio games.
Golfer Jordan Spieth of the USA said withdrawing from the Rio Olympics was one of the most hard decision he had ever had to make.
Rory McIlroy says golf must improve its drug-testing regime as he could “get away with” doping as it stands.
The absences are a blow for golf’s returning to Olympic competition for the first time since 1904, and has been deemed by some as proof that the sport should not be an Olympic event as the professionals simply do not take it seriously enough at that level. “Probably the events like track and field, swimming, diving – the stuff that matters”.
McIlroy, who missed last year’s British Open with a broken ankle, made a couple of other pointed comments.
But the Holywood star, who withdrew citing health reasons surrounding the Zika virus, said: “Honestly, I don’t think it was as hard a decision for me as it was for him”. It is the main reason why players have been withdrawing and it will be the story while the games are going on. “I think that at this stage of my career it’s something that comes around once every four years”.
McIlroy also made it a point to criticize golf’s handling of drug testing throughout the sport.
World number one Jason Day, number two Dustin Johnson and two-times Major victor Jordan Spieth have all withdrawn. I’m strictly health concerns as a whole. “That is an insult to everybody that has spent time to further this game for its inclusion in the Olympics”.
“It will loom over me throughout the Olympic Games, for sure”, Spieth said.
The U.S. team will be represented by No. 5 Bubba Watson, No. 7 Rickie Fowler, No. 13 Patrick Reed and No. 15 Matt Kuchar. This was something I struggled with.
“I don’t think it would be appropriate [to play] given our decision on the Olympics”, Spieth said.
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“I think the Zika risk is going to be one of those things that we look back at and think it’s a non-event, hopefully”, said Rose, a former U.S. Open champion now ranked No. 11.
