As golf returns to the Games slated to begin on August 5, for the first time since 1904, the sport will now be without two of its biggest drawcards, after world No. 4, Rory McIlroy, withdrew earlier this week from Rio – also due to Zika virus concerns.
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Last week, McIlroy became one of the most high-profile sports stars to opt out of the Rio Games. Rory McIlroy, a four-time major champion, also said Zika will keep from competing in Rio de Janeiro.
Day says his only reason for not going is concern over transmission of the mosquito-borne virus that has been linked to severe birth defects.
“For the fact that this is going to be the first time in over a hundred years for golf to be played at the Olympics, we will certainly be awfully excited”, Kuchar told Reuters.
The 28-year-old was later joined by US Open runner-up Lowry, ranked 25th in the world. It’s a much needed step towards bridging the gap between the women’s and men’s game, and it’s sad that we’re wasting our energy discussing which male golfers won’t be playing instead of focusing on who from the women’s field could prevail as they battle for their equivalent of a Green Jacket.
“So as we gather more information I will be able to make a decision one way or the other, when I feel confident, I will make a decision either side”.
None of the world’s top female golfers have backed out of the Olympics, even though they ostensibly face a greater health risk.
“There are full sleeve T-shirts in the kit that will be provided to the players, who will be advised to wear covered clothing during their stay”, he said.
The golfers are just the most obvious example of the wide gap between the relative importance of the Olympics to some Olympians and to certain prospective ones.
Lowry, who got married in April, said he wants to start a family and soon and he received “firm medical advice” from doctors in Dublin that he should not go to Rio. Baker-Finch wants the decision makers to take a serious look at making future Olympic competition a team event, rather than individual stroke play. “I fly the flag proudly, I’m a really proud South African, ‘” he said in the article.
“While I am bitterly disappointed to be missing out on that experience and the opportunity to win an Olympic medal for Ireland, on this occasion I have to put my family’s welfare first”, said Lowry who recently married. I can see why they’re going. “It’s an unfortunate situation, and I’d say that if the Olympics were in most other cities in most other parts of the world this year, you wouldn’t find as many people not wanting to go and participate”.
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Gupta said the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) has taken enough measures to educate the athletes about the virus and have taken all the preventive measures.
