SPIETH ANGUISHED OVER RIO CALL
Skipping Games hardest decision of life, golfer says
TROON, S COTLAND Calling it the toughest decision he’s ever had to make, Jordan Spieth cited health concerns Tuesday as his reason for pulling out of the Rio de Janeiro Olympics.
“This was harder than trying to decide what university to go to. Whether to turn professional and leave school. This was something I very much struggled with,” Spieth, 22, said at Royal Troon, home to the 145th British Open that begins Thursday. “I bounced back and forth with it. And ultimately a decision had to be made yesterday, and so I made it.”
Later in the day, Rory McIlroy said making his decision to withdraw from Rio wasn’t that hard.
“Honestly, I don’t think it was as difficult a decision for me as it was for (Spieth),” McIlroy said. “I don’t feel like I’ve let the game down at all. I didn’t get into golf to try and grow the game. I got into golf to win championships and win major championships, and all of a sudden you get to this point and there is a responsibility on you to grow the game, and I get that.
“But at the same time, that’s not the reason that I got into golf. I got into golf to win. I didn’t get into golf to get other people into the game. But, look, I get where different people come from, and different people have different opinions. But I’m very happy with the decision that I’ve made.”
Spieth was playing Royal Troon on Monday when the International Golf Federation announced he was not playing in the Olympics. The world No. 3 was the last of the Fab Four to pull out of the Games, joining No. 1 Jason Day, No. 2 Dustin Johnson and No. 4 McIlroy. Rickie Fowler, Patrick Reed and Matt Kuchar will play for the USA.
Spieth made a point to say the Zika virus wasn’t the only health concern that moved him to opt out, instead emphasizing overall health concerns. He understands many people will be skeptical of his decision, especially because 18 players have decided not to go, which “hasn’t shed golf in the best light,” IGF President Peter Dawson said Monday.
And he will have trying times watching the Games in August.
“It will loom over me throughout the Olympic Games, for sure. I will be, I’m sure at times, pretty upset that I’m not down there,” said Spieth, who has represented the USA once in the Ryder Cup and twice in the Presidents Cup. “I thought about all this ahead of time. When I watch the opening ceremonies, that’s going to be a big bummer. Then when I watch these guys competing on the golf course. I’ll be texting with Rickie, obviously, throughout.
“I thought about all of this ahead of time and still made the decision I did because it was the right move for me.”
McIlroy, 27, said he doubted he would be watching Olympic golf on TV.
“I’ll probably watch, but I’m not sure golf will be one of the events I watch,” he said of the Olympics. Asked what events he would watch, he said, “Probably events like track and field, swimming, diving ... the stuff that matters.”
Spieth, one of the favorites this week to win the Claret Jug, said he would make it a significant goal to be on the U.S. squad in the 2020 Summer Games in Tokyo.
“I’m a huge believer in Olympic golf,” he said. “I’m a huge believer in playing for your country. ... This year I just had to try and weigh a risk that doesn’t present itself every year, and just at the time that I had to make the decision I just felt this was the right move for me. ... Not everybody’s going to understand.”