This Olympic debate is growing old.
It basically detracted from everything Tuesday at the Open Championship when world’s No. 3 Jordan Spieth and No. 4 Rory McIlroy faced the international press to talk about their decisions to not play in the upcoming Rio Olympic Games.
“Jordan Spieth handled it beautifully,” said Golf Channel trouble-maker Brandel Chamblee. “Rory McIlroy knocked all the dominoes over.”
Spieth faced the music first and cited “health concerns” as his main reason. When a press member brought up the Zika virus, Spieth jumped into action quickly: “I didn’t cite that,” Spieth insisted. “It is strictly health concerns as a whole. Probably the hardest decision I’ve ever had to make in my life. It’s the right decision for me. I’m making it a goal to be in Tokyo in 2020.”
Spieth said he’ll watch the golf portion and “I’ll be texting with Rickie (Fowler).” Spieth also added that he would not play at the John Deere Classic as defending champion. “That wouldn’t be appropriate given my decision with the Olympics.”
McIlroy was very, very blunt with his comments.
“I didn’t get into golf to try and grow the game. I got into golf to win, not get people into golf,” McIlroy said.
McIlroy didn’t flinch. “I have no regrets about it.”
It was toward the end of his comments that McIlroy made a statement that will draw the ire of those trying to make golf an important part of the Olympics.
When asked what he would watch, McIlroy added:
“I’ll watch track and field, swimming and diving — the stuff that matters.”
Golf was not on McIlroy’s list of “stuff that matters.”
