This could be the last time Rory McIlroy speaks about the Olympic golf tournament.
In years to come, the casual sport fan might not be able to recall much about the event at the Rio Games last summer, but they’ll know Rory McIllroy wasn’t there, and it caused a big fuss.
The Northern Irish golfer chose not to compete at the Olympics. He cited concerns over the Zika virus initially, and dismissed the importance of Olympic golf.
However, he has since expanded on the reasons behind his decision to stay away.
McIlroy couldn't win https://t.co/61MKaQL21r
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) January 9, 2017
McIlroy told eventual winner Justin Rose during a text exchange that he would have felt uncomfortable representing either the Republic of Ireland or Great Britain, as he considers himself Northern Irish.
“If I had been on the podium (listening) to the Irish national anthem as that flag went up, or the British national anthem as that flag went up, I would’ve felt uncomfortable either way,” he wrote to Rose.
“I don’t know the words to either anthem. I don’t feel a connection to either flag. I don’t want it to be about flags. I’ve tried to stay away from that.”
With the Tokyo Games just over three years away, McIllroy has moved to end any speculation that he might change his mind about Olympic golf.
“I have fought with myself over for so many years,” McIlroy told the BBC.
“More likely than not, I won’t be going to the Games in 2020 just because of my personal feelings towards… not the Olympic Games, the Olympic Games are great, and I think that golf in the Olympic Games is fantastic.
“But, for me, it’s just something that I don’t want to get into. It’s a personal choice and hopefully people will respect that decision.”
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