Rory McIlroy won’t watch Olympic golf, but rather ‘the stuff that matters’

World number three Jordan Spieth, said he agonised over his decision to withdraw from the Olympics, however McIIroy says he’s comfortable with the decision not to play in Rio as golf makes it’s Olympic return after a 112-year absence.

Most of the players who withdrew cited concerns over Zika, a mosquito-borne virus that the World Health Organization says is spreading rapidly in the Americas.

“Why was it so hard?”

‘He was fine. He just told me how jealous I was going to be when he returned home with the gold medal, ‘ said Spieth. “I’m very happy with my decision and I have no regrets about it”. “Nobody’s going to understand what it’s like in my shoes”.

“I think golf fans really look forward to the majors. and the Ryder Cup in particular. I didn’t get into golf to get other people into the game”.

That didn’t stop him from following his instincts.

Two-time major victor Spieth, the world No. 3, had said last month he was “uncertain” about taking part amid Zika concerns.

“Everybody’s entitled to their own opinion”, Spieth said.

“I can’t worry about other guys”. In the case of the top male golfers, they’ll wait until Tokyo 2020.

So far, it’s been the predominant story line in the buildup to the golf’s oldest major championship, with Spieth announcing Monday he would follow the lead of McIlroy, Day and Johnson by not playing in Rio next month when the sport rejoins the Summer Games for the first time since 1904.

Asked to expand on that assessment, the vice president of the International Golf Federation, Ty Votaw, confirmed that no one associated with the course – from hundreds of construction workers to those now charged with keeping it in top condition – has been diagnosed with Zika. “It doesn’t stop them going to play” other tournaments.

“And if I feel like there’s any significant threat, then is it worth it?” “I just don’t think it actually matters at this point whether they regard (the Olympics) as much as a major or not, frankly”. “That’s what he said”.

Jordan Spieth will watch the Olympics on television with a bout of agony.

Five-time Olympic rowing gold-medallist Steve Redgrave (R) says the Zika virus is being used as an excuse to pull out of the Rio Olympics.

‘Honestly, I don’t think it was as hard a decision for me as it was for him, ‘ he said. “I don’t think it would be appropriate given our decision on the Olympics”. He still feels the sting of falling one stroke short of a playoff a year ago at St. Andrews when his Grand Slam quest was still alive.

He was ready to move on from Olympics to a claret jug. But even Spieth knows that won’t happen. He said he would carry the decision with him through the Olympics and for a while. “It will loom over me through the Olympic Games, for sure”.

“I think I took an eight or a nine”, he told a news conference at Troon.

“No, that’s personal. I can’t”. I don’t know myself of any banned substance that would help a golfer across the board.

What was it like, telling close friend Rickie Fowler, who is going, that he would not be joining him? So I feel that many, if not all of you, would have made the same decision if you were in my shoes.