Rory Says Thanks But No Thanks To The Olympics

[GolfSpy Barbajo]

So Rory says he's not going play golf in the Olympics - it's the Zika virus thing.  

 

What do you think of his decision? What do you think of Olympic golf in general?

 

 

Rory McIlroy is out of the Olympics and has released a statement.https://t.co/fb6XPGTzwa pic.twitter.com/ywdvYFNExq

— GolfPunkHQ (@GolfPunk_Mag) June 22, 2016

[MattF]

I think if the Olympics were anywhere in Europe, Oceania or North America, you wouldn't see the amount of guys pulling out as you do now.

 

IMO, Rio is going to be bad with a lot of incidents involving Olympians and tourists.

[Peterpc2828]

Hey those guys have the ability to make their own schedules and play whatever events and tournaments they like, I'm sure Rory will not be the only one.

My thing is why are not the best armatures from each country not the ones playing, sorry I'm not a fan of professional athletes such as NBA/ PGA stars playing in the Olympics

 

 

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[Jmikecpa]

Personally I think that the Zika virus is a nice way to say no thank you to the sh!tshow that is going to be the Rio olympics. The entire event is challenged severely and it has not even started.

 

 

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[mcavoy]

Personally I think that the Zika virus is a nice way to say no thank you to the sh!tshow that is going to be the Rio olympics. The entire event is challenged severely and it has not even started.

 

 

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That's certainly possible but also I think certain segments of the athlete population there may be more prone to exposure to Zika than others.  On a golf course (and I haven't seen the Rio course) there are water hazards and other wet areas that can be breeding grounds for mosquitoes.  So a golfers risk for exposure could be higher than say a track and field athlete.  But that said the game is too lucrative for the top guys to want to give up 2 weeks to want to go play for free somewhere.  Yes, even if its for their country.

[BigtazzGolf]

I think if the Olympics were anywhere in Europe, Oceania or North America, you wouldn't see the amount of guys pulling out as you do now.

 

IMO, Rio is going to be bad with a lot of incidents involving Olympians and tourists.

Totally agree.

I'm afraid these games will be a train wreck.

 

Tazz

[RookieBlue7]

The country is a dump. Realistically there's about 5 countries that should and could host the olympics. Quit trying to be "fair" and "global". Now you've got a sh*$show on your hands

[dhayse32]

Don't blame him one bit.  Not worth it.  Like others have said, Rio is going to be a disaster...

[chershey]

If the Zika Virus is the real reason, it's understandable. He doesn't want to infect this fiancé or even take any chances on that. I think I would enjoy golf in the Olympics much more if only the top amateurs could compete. We would learn a lot about them and find out who some of the future stars on the US and European might be. I'll still watch it obviously because it's golf and I love it any level but I think they're going about it all wrong.

[JAGolfore]

I agree with you guys above, this needs to be an amateur event.  Bring the best from each country and have it be ryder cup style matches.  Having the pro's play in the Olympics does not interest me.  They have a busy summer and this only adds to it.  Make is an amateur event for 2020.

[JudgeSmails]

Professional Golf doesn't need the olympics, there are multiple tournaments every year, where all the best players in the world already compete.....it should be the amateurs from around the world competing

[hckymeyer]

Quick side note first.  It doesn't bother me at all to have pro playing, but I do think it should be a team event.  It doesn't need to be another Ryder cup or Presidents cup, but I think it would be much more entertaining to watch as a team event with some type of alternate shot, best ball, scramble type of format.  Change it up a little bit to help make it not just another tournament.

 

As for Rory and the others who've already announced not wanting to play, I'm just fine with that.  If I was about to start a family and there was a higher likely hood of my children being born with medical issues because I chose to play golf in a certain location.  You can guarantee I would not be playing.  It's not even a question.

[Jmikecpa]

Quick side note first.  It doesn't bother me at all to have pro playing, but I do think it should be a team event.  It doesn't need to be another Ryder cup or Presidents cup, but I think it would be much more entertaining to watch as a team event with some type of alternate shot, best ball, scramble type of format.  Change it up a little bit to help make it not just another tournament.

 

As for Rory and the others who've already announced not wanting to play, I'm just fine with that.  If I was about to start a family and there was a higher likely hood of my children being born with medical issues because I chose to play golf in a certain location.  You can guarantee I would not be playing.  It's not even a question.

Team event would be interesting, maybe something similar to the NCAA tournament?  Four rounds of stroke play to qualify and then the top 8 play elimination match play.

[Kenny B]

The Olympics used to be the best amateurs in the world, but then countries supported their amateurs so they became "pay-to-play" and no different than pros.  Now, what do the Olympics represent?  The best in the world??  Only if everyone shows up.  With athletes canceling out, the gold medal goes to the best athlete who decided to attend, and it now means nothing.  #tarnishedgold

[Fireinthehole]

The country is a dump. Realistically there's about 5 countries that should and could host the olympics. Quit trying to be "fair" and "global". Now you've got a sh*$show on your hands

 

Lol that would go against the whole idea of the olympics if it only is played in 5 countries. Its an international affair. Its a bottomless money pit and your country loses money hosting it- sure business do well, but the net is still a negative. 

 

They should definelty stop rewarding countries that cannot put on the event. Same scenario with the world cup: see Qatar...

[Undershooter]

I have zero problem with him not playing. I don't think I would be playing either thanks to the conditions down there. If it weren't for that then I think Rory would play. He's talked before about how loves events like that where he represents something bigger and said that means more to him than anything. He has all the money he'll ever need and he's said he doesn't care about that either and I believe him.

 

Also, I don't mind the pros playing but I also wouldn't mind seeing an amateur event as well. 

 

What would be really cool, is if there would be small amateur teams lead by a Pro. Say 5 person team with 4 ams and 1 pro or something of the sort. I think that would offer the best of both worlds. I do enjoy team events because your not just playing for yourself, your playing for the betterment of the group. 

[jlew2144]

Heard on the news yesterday that the transit system they've built for the Olympics will not be ready to test on time. The first time they fire it up could be with people on it, and they're concerned about safety. So you've got Zika, buildings built for the Olympics already crumbling and shifting, water issues for the water sports and possible transit issues. Way to go Rio!!!

 

As other's have mentioned I don't blame Rory for backing out, nor any of the other athletes who've withdrawn. It is a shame though, because as Kenny B mentions above, it's supposed to be about crowning the best in the world, not the best that's willing to risk their health to show up.

[PlaidJacket]

I'm not a fan anymore of the Olympics. IMHO it's gotten too political over the past 20 years or so. I think golf could have made a better choice to reintroduce it to the games. Rio is a train wreck and staging the Olympics there made the place even worse. If I were a PGA golfer I'd decline too. For any and all reasons.

Go team.

[fozcycle]

IMHO, I think the Olympic Selection committee screwed the pooch on this one.  There was enough evidence of the results of the Zika virus well before the committee chose the site for the Olympics.  They could have passed, based upon the Health findings and selected the back up site.  I do believe that money got in the way and the Olympic committee was trying to provide a financial windfall for Brazil.

[MGoBlue100]

Don't blame the players re: Zika. Couldn't care less that it's pros; I doubt I would watch amateurs, necessarily. IMO, it should be a team event, similar to Ryder Cup/Soccer World Cup. Who needs another professional stroke play event?

 

 

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[MGoBlue100]

IMHO, I think the Olympic Selection committee screwed the pooch on this one. There was enough evidence of the results of the Zika virus well before the committee chose the site for the Olympics. They could have passed, based upon the Health findings and selected the back up site. I do believe that money got in the way and the Olympic committee was trying to provide a financial windfall for Brazil.

...and themselves, LOLZ.

 

 

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[RookieBlue7]

Lol that would go against the whole idea of the olympics if it only is played in 5 countries. Its an international affair. Its a bottomless money pit and your country loses money hosting it- sure business do well, but the net is still a negative.

 

They should definelty stop rewarding countries that cannot put on the event. Same scenario with the world cup: see Qatar...

Being as someone I know that has an Olympic gold medal said the same thing when I asked him, I stand by my statement.

[Fireinthehole]

Being as someone I know that has an Olympic gold medal said the same thing when I asked him, I stand by my statement.

Cool,

 

Like I said at the bottom, the Olympic committee needs to stop awarding countries without the infrastructure to put on the event.

 

 

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[chemclub]

The Olympics has lost a bit of its luster over the last couple showings so I can understand him dropping out. I also didn't really care about Pros or golf in the Olympics.

 

And just so y'all know. Canada is the defending gold medalists in golf. Won the last one back in 1904.

[EthanSterlingPrice]

I don't know the odds of contracting zika so I can't say anything about that but whatever the odds do turn out to be I respect Rory for putting family above career. And I agree with everyone that zika might not be the biggest issue at these games, it should be very interesting for better or worse.

 

Yes on team play, get some variety into the games, maybe even a scramble format, would love to see DJ bombing tees and Jordan sinking putts.

 

And as for Olympians being pros yes I would love to see amateur athletes but it is what it is and won't change anytime soon so I'll just enjoy what I got.

 

Lastly USA! USA! USA!

 

 

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[hckymeyer]

And just so y'all know. Canada is the defending gold medalists in golf. Won the last one back in 1904.

 

Great ... One more thing for MBP to get crazy for Canada over

[McaseyM]

Bringing golf back in the year where the host country has no courses it following was stupid, it's a waste of half of the trial to see it it'll stay.

I'm sure it'll be huge in 2020 in Japan, I'm betting most the big boys will be there for that one. But I would like to see the amateurs play it in a team event.

 

 

 

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[fozcycle]

It's not like the events last only a few minutes....We are talking 5 hours on the moquito infested jungle of a course.   There is a great risk here......and now G Mac has withdrwn as well.

[chemclub]

I don't know the odds of contracting zika so I can't say anything about that but whatever the odds do turn out to be I respect Rory for putting family above career. And I agree with everyone that zika might not be the biggest issue at these games, it should be very interesting for better or worse.

 

Yes on team play, get some variety into the games, maybe even a scramble format, would love to see DJ bombing tees and Jordan sinking putts.

 

And as for Olympians being pros yes I would love to see amateur athletes but it is what it is and won't change anytime soon so I'll just enjoy what I got.

 

Lastly USA! USA! USA!

 

 

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I have been living in the US for about 10 years—even got my green card this Spring—I still cannot bring myself to cheer for team USA.

 

It's a Canadian thing. An inferiority complex I suppose.

[fozcycle]

That's okay Chemclub....it's okay to root for your roots!