After Rio, stars say hindsight is 2020

No player among the top stars who opted against going to the Olympics spoke stronger, more negative words about golf in the Games than Rory McIlroy.

Now, having had the benefit of seeing how the golf competition — won by Justin Rose on the men’s side — came off, McIlroy reversed field Wednesday while speaking to reporters in advance of Thursday’s opening round of the Barclays at Bethpage Black.

“It was nice to be proven wrong somewhat,’’ McIlroy said. “I thought golf was sort of going to get lost a little bit. It was away from the village. I thought it was going to just sort of blend in with everything else and be, not forgotten about, but just one of a lot of sports that are there obviously.

“It pleasant ly surprised me. There were more people at the golf events than there was at the [track and field]. It was good to see, it really was. It seems like it was a great atmosphere down there. To see the crowds and see the turnout, I was glad to be somewhat proven wrong.”

McIlroy, speaking to reporters at the British Open in July, said he had no plans to watch any of the Olympic golf, that he was not interested. Adding to his controversial stance, when he was asked which Olympic sports he would watch, McIlroy said, “Swimming, track and field … the sports that matter.’’

McIlroy was not alone in his post-Olympic support of golf in the Games from the stars who chose not to compete.

“I really enjoyed it,’’ Jordan Spieth said Wednesday. “It came off I thought tremendous for the game. I enjoyed watching the finish to the Olympics and I wished I was there. At the time I made the decision, it was the right decision for me. And I told you guys in that [British Open] press conference, it was the hardest thing I’ve had to do.

“The potential for regret was going to be there and it certainly was while I was watching, so that’s why I tweeted out, ‘I’m looking forward to setting it as a goal to be there in 2020.’ ’’

Spieth said he knew as soon as he watched the opening ceremonies “it was going to be tough’’ he was going to fall victim to the fear of missing out.

“Personally, I thought of it as the hype of a major championship as from a player’s perspective watching,’’ he said. “Knowing Justin and Henrik [Stenson, the silver medalist] and having played quite a few rounds with them this year, it was pretty cool to watch that battle.’’

Spieth said he missed being a part of “the passion that everyone was displaying; the videos I was getting from Rickie [Fowler] of all the guys and just how much fun everybody was having on and off the golf course.’’

U.S. Open winner Dustin Johnson said watching the Games motivated him to try to make the 2020 team for the Tokyo Olympics.

“I’d have liked to have been there, for sure,’’ Johnson said. “I wanted to go play. I wanted to go represent my country. I would have really liked to play in the Olympics, but unfortunately where it was and all the other things that went along with it was my reason for not going. Nothing to do with golf in the Olympics.

“To me, the [Zika virus] risk wasn’t worth it. That was the reason I didn’t go. I’m looking to hopefully making the team and playing in Tokyo.’’

Jason Day, the No. 1 ranked player in the world, said, “I don’t have any regrets’’ about not going to Rio, but he was quick to add, “I’m looking forward to Tokyo. If I can play my way on to that team … [I would] look forward to representing Australia in Tokyo.

“The decision was based on family and … you don’t have any regrets whenever you base obviously your stance on something bigger than yourself, and it was for me and my family,’’ he said. “I think after seeing how everything kind of unfolded in Rio with how the golf was played, I think it was well received amongst the world.’’