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McIlroy withdraws from Olympics due to Zika concerns

Published

10 years ago

Jun 22, 2016

Rory McIlroy has become the highest profile golfer to withdraw from this summer’s Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, citing concerns over the Zika virus.

“After speaking with those closest to me, I’ve come to realize that my health and my family’s health comes before anything else,” the golfer said in a statement. “Even though the risk of infection from the Zika virus is considered low, it is a risk nonetheless and a risk I am unwilling to take.”

McIlroy is currently the No. 4 in the Official World Golf Rankings, and would have represented Ireland in the Games. He joins a growing list of golfers who will not participate in Rio, including Adam Scott, Louis Oosthuizen, Charl Schwartzel, Marc Leishman and Vijay Singh. Rickie Fowler, No. 6 in the OWGR, has also cast doubt that he will participate in Rio.

“I trust the Irish people will understand my decision,” McIlroy said. “The unwavering support I receive every time I compete in a golf tournament at home or abroad means the world to me.”

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42 Comments

Jordan Speeth

Jun 25, 2016 at 5:45 pm

Why would anyone (OK, I get it with 20 something “amateur” athletes) want to go anywhere near Rio and, especially since they’ll have to spend two weeks there? That place is an absolute nightmare…no where in the world is it worse besides maybe Mogadishu or somewhere like that. When Michael Jackson was there about 20 years ago people were throwing children in front of his motorcade with the hopes of collecting money. That’s not to mention that the biggest sport in Rio is the kidnapping of wealthy foreigners for ransom and, if they don’t get the dough quickly enough….bang. The criminals there are the most bloodthirsty on earth. Think they’re not going to target someone like Rory who’s got $100MM in the bank? Please. I’d wonder about his judgement if he did go. Anybody who knows anything about Rio knows what a dangerous place it is, especially right now and during those Games. The only people that will be there will be idiots and athletes. I’ll be surprised if anyone shows up. Those that do go will be on their own, count on that.

Reply Report comment
Bob

Jun 24, 2016 at 8:27 pm

Why anyone with millions in the bank would step foot in that 3rd world sh_thole is beyond my comprehension. The Olympics are a media promoted joke.

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golfraven

Jun 23, 2016 at 8:27 am

I guess Rory is having ideas for family planning and kids so understandably he is not willing to take risk. Oh well, I am sure he will be in the mix in 4 years.

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8thehardway

Jun 23, 2016 at 3:16 am

Olympic Golf doesn’t feel right to me but now I have to watch. Like Trevino tossing a 3-foot rubber snake at or to Jack in the 1971 Open at Merion, I’m looking for someone to do the same with a foot-long Zika-mosquita and you can bet Rory will be counting swats during the round. I know Seve would have swatted at invisible ones while an opponent was putting.

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Mark

Jun 23, 2016 at 2:44 am

Well done Rory. Hopefully other top players will follow suit. Golf should have nothing to do with the corrupt Olympic movement that only makes decisions once the bribes have cleared in their bank accounts.

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Bert

Jun 22, 2016 at 7:15 pm

Some here are so full of hate – amazing. They hate Roy and each others as well, not hard to pick out. Seldom a positive or constructive comment.

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john

Jun 22, 2016 at 6:42 pm

makes sense golfers would pull out seeing as though it’s a mosquito borne virus and the golf course is built on a mosquito prone piece of land… once jason and jordan pull out – the golf wont be worth watching. Thankfully Japan paid the most in bribes for 2020 so the IOC let them have a go and we wont have this rubbish.

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GB

Jun 22, 2016 at 6:10 pm

He was at the NI match in France the other day, and I am sure he realized he is patriotically from NI and not RoI and was able to cleanse his conflicted feelings and helped him decide to not show up at all because he probably would have preferred to have played for NI which would have been under the GB banner ha-ha-ha

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Beezer

Jun 22, 2016 at 4:51 pm

These guys can afford to carry a bottle of DEET in their staff bags and buy a box of Kimonos when they get home— most in Brazil cannot. It’s typical internet media showing the population whining about how bad the Olympics have gotten– not one person suggesting that the Games is worth saving at all. They must not remember how amazing it can be.

Reply Report comment
- emmizzle
  
  Jun 23, 2016 at 2:35 pm
  
  agreed
  
  Reply Report comment
Smitty

Jun 22, 2016 at 2:48 pm

The Olympics are a joke, particularly this one in Rio. I can’t say that I blame any of the guys who have backed out.

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Slugga Meat

Jun 22, 2016 at 2:43 pm

What IF…….Golf in the Olympics were a success and people really wanted a lot more of it than the haters that have posted so far, then it may be the fifth major and Rory would have lost a chance to secure that trophy for that overrated player that is horrible at putting

Reply Report comment
- The dude
  
  Jun 22, 2016 at 4:46 pm
  
  5th Major….did you type that with a straight face?
  
  Reply Report comment
Forsbrand

Jun 22, 2016 at 1:45 pm

Olympics should be cancelled FULL STOP this year! It’s too much of a risk

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Rev G

Jun 22, 2016 at 1:44 pm

Sorry my geography wasn’t correct. The course was built on a nature preserve either way.

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Skittle Diddle

Jun 22, 2016 at 12:46 pm

Actually it can be passed to a partner sexually and cause microcephaly during conception or in an already pregnant woman. So get your facts straight genius.

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Rio=Nasty

Jun 22, 2016 at 12:29 pm

Have you even seen the conditions the stadiums are in? Un-playable. There will be no Olympics at the rate Rio is preparing for them.

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300 Yard Pro

Jun 22, 2016 at 11:41 am

I’m only going to watch the Games to hear about all the crime.

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300 Yard Pro

Jun 22, 2016 at 11:38 am

Zilka = AKA Getting your guts stabbed out for the $15 in your wallet.

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Tom

Jun 22, 2016 at 11:20 am

They way Rory has been workin out it looks like he already has zeka.

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Vancouver Mellencamp

Jun 22, 2016 at 10:59 am

Good for Rory. The Olympics are a bloated, corrupt, steroid-fuelled sham. Add in the Zika virus and it’s an easy choice. Not to mention professional golf has absolutely NO place in these games.

Reply Report comment
- Steve
  
  Jun 22, 2016 at 7:30 pm
  
  I’d love to hear a good reason why…
  
  Reply Report comment
Rev G

Jun 22, 2016 at 10:39 am

The Olympics are the most tainted, poorly rain, scandalous sporting events around. Why is golf even in this thing. All the golfers should boycott. They seriously tore down 300 acres of rain forest to build a course for two weeks of golf in a country and region that has no interest in golf. As hard as the R&A, USGA, the Golf Course Superintendant Associations are working to clean up golf’s environmental impact – these idiots go and tear down rain forest for a course – unbelievable. The olympics should go back to being a track and field/swimming event for amateurs – that’s when it was interesting and still pure.

Reply Report comment
- GRobs
  
  Jun 22, 2016 at 12:34 pm
  
  It was a sandbank habitat. Not saying if it was wrong or right but get your story straight.
  
  Reply Report comment
- Steve
  
  Jun 22, 2016 at 7:33 pm
  
  How was it “pure”? A lot of those amateurs were juiced up. The only reason they are/were amateurs is because nobody will pay to watch other people run in a circle and swim. BORING.
  
  Reply Report comment
- James Jones
  
  Jun 27, 2016 at 7:15 am
  
  I don’t think you’re right… The region where the golf course was built was a sandbank habitat, and yes, in Brazil we have interest in golf.
  
  Reply Report comment
TCJ

Jun 22, 2016 at 9:56 am

+1

Reply Report comment
- Mark Moser
  
  Jun 22, 2016 at 10:22 am
  
  He will
  Then be infected and can pass it along to a home he has intercourse with or even kisses as it can be spread through saliva!! NFW!!!!
  
  Reply Report comment
- Skittle Diddle
  
  Jun 22, 2016 at 12:47 pm
  
  -1
  
  Reply Report comment
dr abo

Jun 22, 2016 at 9:48 am

Golf is not a sport, who cares…

Reply Report comment
- Travis
  
  Jun 22, 2016 at 11:17 am
  
  Says the man who lives in moms basement!
  “MOM”! “Meatloaf”!
  
  Reply Report comment
setter02

Jun 22, 2016 at 9:39 am

I’m sure security is also a big concern. You’ll have piles of millionaire Pro athletes around and temptation will large for those unsavory people who prey on others. Zika is the polite way of saying ‘GFYS’. Its also a bad time of year for the top players focusing on the events that actually matter to them. That and who actually cares about the Olympics anymore outside of a few events?

Reply Report comment
- Timbleking
  
  Jun 22, 2016 at 4:02 pm
  
  Strange comment. 2 years ago, the FIFA World Cup was in Brasil with much more millionaires and nothing happened security wise.
  
  Reply Report comment
KJ

Jun 22, 2016 at 9:17 am

Good for Rory. Zika aside, the Olympics just aren’t what they used to be. Politics and corruption by the Olympic Committee has tarnished the medals won by great athletes. In my opinion, it’s silly to even have golf in the Olympics. No offense and golf is a sport but even professional golfers are not necessarily athletes to the caliber of true Olympians. Lastly, we have four majors, four World Golf Championships and the Ryder Cup. That’s more than enough significant events for the world to absorb. There will be many more players that’ll drop out. The floodgates have opened.

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Steve

Jun 22, 2016 at 9:15 am

Unless your a athlete that needs the Olympics to showcase your skills, track and field, diving, swimming etc. Why would you go there? Diseases, crime, possibly terror attacks. It should be the top amateur golfers anyway, but that ship has sailed.

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Weeds

Jun 22, 2016 at 8:51 am

Why not just tell the truth and say he has no interest in playing in the Olympics. People will get over it. This is a very lame cop out unless Rory thinks he’s going to get knocked up in the near future.

Reply Report comment
- Milo
  
  Jun 22, 2016 at 10:09 am
  
  The guy can get Zika and pass it on to his spouse through intercourse.
  
  Reply Report comment
- Milo
  
  Jun 22, 2016 at 10:13 am
  
  He can pass it on like a STD
  
  Reply Report comment
JR

Jun 22, 2016 at 8:47 am

I do not blame him for doing this. I also have a feeling that more golfers will do the same when they find out the risk involved and the pit they will be going to in order to compete! More than just the Zika virus to worry about in that country.

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The Dude

Jun 22, 2016 at 8:26 am

More players to come……spending 7 hours a day outside puts the golfers at highest risk……anyway…golf in the Olympics…few people even care…

Reply Report comment
- Tom
  
  Jun 22, 2016 at 11:22 am
  
  geez ya came to this site.. a golf site to post a negative comment about the sport you play?
  
  Reply Report comment
  - The dude
    
    Jun 22, 2016 at 4:54 pm
    
    I love Golf…but also a realist….an easy combination to coexist 🙂
    
    Reply Report comment

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Photos from the 2026 PGA Championship

Published

3 days ago

May 11, 2026

GolfWRX Staff

GolfWRX is on site for the second major of 2026: The PGA Championship from Aronimink in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania.

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