McIlroy also believes golf needs a more rigourous approach to drug-testing to fall in line with other Olympic sports.
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But Rose said: “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”.
Asked which events he would watch on television, the four-time major victor said: “P robably the events like track and field, swimming, diving – the stuff that matters”.
With two-time major victor Jordan Spieth the latest to withdraw from the Olympics on Monday, the tournament will be without its four top players as Jason Day and Dustin Johnson have also opted to stay at home.
Keep in mind, Chamblee is talking about a golfer who has won 11 PGA Tour titles and four major championships.
Despite his arduous decision, Spieth said he is a big proponent of golf at the Olympics, and one of his main goals is getting another shot at the Games in Tokyo 2020.
McIlroy, 27, then took aim at the sport’s lax attitude to drug testing and questioned why it was included in the Games.
“I don’t think it was as hard a decision for me as it was for him”, the Northern Irishman told a news conference ahead of the 145th British Open that starts tomorrow night.
“I don’t think it was as hard a decision for me as it was for him”, the Northern Irishman said.
Insisting he had no regrets, McIlroy asserted: “I don’t feel like I’ve let the game down at all”.
Golf will be part of the Olympics for the first time since 1904. “I got into golf to win championships, and major championships”.
What’s more, McIlroy said that while he’d be watching plenty of Olympic coverage, it probably wouldn’t much – if any – golf. It wasn’t an easy decision for me.
Golf’s long-awaited return to the Olympic Games has endured its share of jabs and uppercuts.
Those comments received criticism from English squash player Laura Massaro, whose sport is not included in the Olympics.
Spieth, 22, added: “Do I think it looks bad on golf?”.
“I could use HGH and get away with it”, McIlroy said.
After shooting a first round 69 to begin his Open challenge today, McIlroy elaborated on that comment – and claimed he had spent “seven years” trying to please people over the Olympics issue.
Q. Is it nice to talk about the golf instead of the Olympics? I have been there for three years.
The IOC will meet after the Rio Games to evaluate golf and all other sports and events on the program. “Therefore, there’s nothing I can do about it except go on and try to again focus on this week”.
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“I’m excited to be here, I love playing links golf and it’s time to start to playing a little better”.
