Grace pulls out of Rio Olympics

BRANDEN Grace withdrew from the Olympic Games yesterday, becoming the fourth golfer to cite the Zika virus as a reason not to play in Rio de Janeiro later this year.

At No 11 in the world, Grace, a two-time winner this year, is the highest-ranked South African golfer.

“Although it was a huge goal of mine to represent my country in the Olympics, we are getting married in November and hoping to start a family in the near future, so I must put the health of my family first,” said Grace.

Brazil has been the hardest hit of the 60 countries that have reported an outbreak of Zika, the mosquito-borne virus linked to severe birth defects and possible neurological problems in adults.

Grace’s announcement came two days after Rory McIlroy, of Northern Ireland, the world No 4, said he would not be part of golf ’s return to the Olympics because of Zika.

McIlroy is also engaged and said he planned to start a family soon.

Former Masters champion Charl Schwartzel said three weeks ago that Zika was behind his decision to withdraw.

Schwartzel said he and his wife planned to have more children and that he would play if he were single or if the Olympics were held elsewhere.

Marc Leishman, of Australia, also cited Zika because his wife’s immune system has not fully recovered after she nearly died last year of toxic shock syndrome.