McIlroy defends Olympics withdrawal

Rory McIlroy reveals his disappointment at missing out

Rory McIlroy
Rory McIlroy has defended his decision to withdraw from the Olympics
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Rory McIlroy has expressed his disappointment at missing out on the Olympic Games but says it’s a risk he simply isn’t willing to take

McIlroy defends Olympics withdrawal

Rory McIlroy has expressed his disappointment at missing out on the Olympic Games but says it’s a risk he simply isn’t willing to take.

McIlroy is due to get married next year, and with concerns about the Zika virus prevalent, he says he’s prepared to wait until Tokyo in 2020 for the Olympic experience.

“You don’t want to take any risks when it comes to that stuff. I didn’t want to disappoint people and I didn’t want to disappoint Paul McGinley, who I’ve become very close with. That was one of the toughest phone calls I’ve had to make," said McIlroy.

“I put so much work into going. I found accommodation, sorted out a chef and security down there, got everything planned out, had the injections – and two dead shoulders for four days – but ultimately I thought if I’m not 100% comfortable going down there, I don’t want to take the risk.”

Exclusive Rory McIlroy interview:

Asked whether golf should be in the Olympics in the first place, McIlroy said:

“That’s not for me to say. I wasn’t part of the process. The R&A and some of the bodies who run our sport thought it was a good idea, and obviously it is. The Olympics is obviously a great platform to get golf into different markets.

“I’ve said to people I have four Olympics each year (the Majors). That’s my pinnacle. That’s what I play for and that’s what I’ll be remembered for. But, again, as a tool to grow the game around the world, I think it’s great. Some people argue it would have been better to send amateurs there, but the whole reason it’s in the Olympics is because they wanted the best players to go and compete.

“Unfortunately, with where it is this year, people just aren’t that comfortable going down there, putting themselves and their family at risk. 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.”

Related: Rory McIlroy – How I became a champion

With so many high-profile withdrawals over the past week and beyond, many have been concerned about the resulting knock-on effects in terms of golf’s reputation.

“I don’t think it’s embarrassing for golf. Most other athletes dream their whole lives about winning an Olympic gold. We haven’t. We dream about winning Claret Jugs and Green Jackets. I don’t know if that makes golf look insular in any way, but it’s just the way it is,” he said.

“I don’t think it’ll have any long-lasting effects, but it’s been a bit of a difficult time with all the negative press golf has received over the past week or so.”

McIlroy was asked why so few of the top female professionals had pulled out, to which he responded:

“I guess some of the top women golfers might not have plans to have children over the next six months or a year, but that might be different with some of the men.

“Shane has just got married, Jason Day has a young family and I’m getting married next year. You can’t really compare apples to apples. I’d say 90% of the athletes going to the Olympics are single and have no plans to start a family in the near future.”

Martin Kaymer, however, reaffirmed his commitment to represent Germany in Rio.

“There were a lot of people who worked so hard to get golf into the Olympic Games, form all different countries, and now all the best players are pulling out.

“It’s very sad for me, someone who is passionate about the Olympic Games, but at the end of the day, if it makes it easier for me to become a Gold Medal winner, I’m fine with it.”

Nick Bonfield
Features Editor

Nick Bonfield joined Golf Monthly in 2012 after graduating from Exeter University and earning an NCTJ-accredited journalism diploma from News Associates in Wimbledon. He is responsible for managing production of the magazine, sub-editing, writing, commissioning and coordinating all features across print and online. Most of his online work is opinion-based and typically centres around the Majors and significant events in the global golfing calendar. Nick has been an avid golf fan since the age of ten and became obsessed with the professional game after watching Mike Weir and Shaun Micheel win The Masters and PGA Championship respectively in 2003. In his time with Golf Monthly, he's interviewed the likes of Rory McIlroy, Justin Rose, Jose Maria Olazabal, Henrik Stenson, Padraig Harrington, Lee Westwood and Billy Horschel and has ghost-written columns for Westwood, Wayne Riley, Matthew Southgate, Chris Wood and Eddie Pepperell. Nick is a 12-handicap golfer and his favourite courses include Old Head, Sunningdale New, Penha Longha, Valderrama and Bearwood Lakes. If you have a feature pitch for Nick, please email nick.bonfield@futurenet.com with 'Pitch' in the subject line. Nick is currently playing: Driver: TaylorMade M1 Fairway wood: TaylorMade RBZ Stage 2 Hybrid: Ping Crossover Irons (4-9): Nike Vapor Speed Wedges: Cleveland CBX Full Face, 56˚, Titleist Vokey SM4, 60˚ Putter: testing in progress! Ball: TaylorMade TP5x