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McIlroy has put talk of who he would represent at the Rio Olympics on the backburner as he looks to continue his stunning run of form. The two-time major winner lifted the BMW Championship in Carmel on Sunday night - his second successive PGA title - but woke up to some stories about a supposed dispute over who he would turn out for when golf gains Olympic status in 2016. Quotes attributed to the County Down-born 23-year-old said he felt "more British than Irish", suggesting he would look to be a part of the all-conquering Team GB in Brazil. But McIlroy took to his official Twitter feed on Monday night to deliver a statement which said he had made no such decisions and was purely concentrating on golf. "I am in an extremely sensitive and difficult position and I conveyed as much in a recent newspaper interview," he wrote. "I am a proud product of Irish golf and the Golfing Union of Ireland. I am also a proud Ulsterman who grew up in Northern Ireland which is part of the United Kingdom. That is my background and always will be. "I receive great support from both Irish and British fans alike and it is greatly appreciated." Golf will be making its Games debut in Rio and although still some time away, a number of players have already been asked for their thoughts on it, but with a Ryder Cup less than three weeks away, world number one McIlroy is not entertaining talk of it, or of who he will be playing for when the time comes. "I wish to clarify I have absolutely not made a decision regarding my participation on the next Olympics," he added. "On a personal level, playing in the Olympics would be a huge honour. However, the Games in Rio are four years away and I certainly won't be making any decisions with regard to participation any time soon. "My focus right now is on being the best player I can be, trying to win major championships and contributing to what will hopefully be a victorious Ryder Cup side."

Mick Mac Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> It's his choice. He is I think from a family of

> mixed religion, so no clear indication there and

> so he really is going to find it difficult to

> choose. I don't think his choice will actuallly

> upset anyone.


Of course it will. There are plenty of small minded idiots out there who will take offence whichever way he chooses. If he does feel more British than Irish then he should go for Team GB and ask to change it to its correct name, Team GB & NI.

>

> If he chooses GB he might get to play with Gmac,

> but more realistically 3 English players. If that

> is likely to happen he may be swayed towards

> Ireland, if Gmac does not get picked for GB.


Both he and GMac represented Ireland in the golf World Cup as a team. But like rugby, hockey & cricket, they have one team representing the whole 'country'. In Brazil it wont be a team event as such, though each country is limited in how many golfers they can enter.


http://golf.about.com/od/tourmajorevents/f/olympicformatfield.htm


The only certain golfers to gain entry are the top 15 in the World rankings. If there are two or more from GB & NI in that 15 they could all play. But if Gmac for example finished 16th and didn't qualify for the GB team he may well qualify for the Ireland team.

Alan Medic Wrote:

-----------------------------------------------------

> The only certain golfers to gain entry are the top

> 15 in the World rankings. If there are two or more

> from GB & NI in that 15 they could all play. But

> if Gmac for example finished 16th and didn't

> qualify for the GB team he may well qualify for

> the Ireland team.


Hopefully they'll have to choose which country they wish to represent before rankings decide who can play, otherwise it'll just be seen as a flag of convenience...

Alan Medic Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------


> The only certain golfers to gain entry are the top

> 15 in the World rankings. If there are two or more

> from GB & NI in that 15 they could all play. But

> if Gmac for example finished 16th and didn't

> qualify for the GB team he may well qualify for

> the Ireland team.



Yes - thats why I said he's more likely to end up in a team with 3 English payers, being Donald, Westwood and either Rose/Poulter if he goes the GB route.


I'm not sure he'd necessarily want that.



I'm a step ahead of you Declan, as usual. ;-)



I stick to my original view that I think he'll end up plumping for Ireland, unless his mate Gmac is likely to also make the GB team.

  • 3 weeks later...

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