Sports

‘I haven’t made my decision yet’

Irish golfer McIlroy still undecided about Rio Olympic ties.

Afp February 27, 2014

“There’s no real urgency at the moment, and I couldn’t even imagine planning my schedule that far ahead. I will have to decide, however, and take into consideration many sensibilities,” said McIlroy. PHOTO: AFP/FILE

PALM BEACH GARDENS: Northern Ireland star Rory McIlroy remains undecided about whether he would play for Ireland or Britain at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics, when golf returns to the Games programme.

For the first time since 1904, golfers will compete for Olympic gold, but that brings the tricky question of nationality into play because Northern Ireland does not field its own team.

“I haven’t made a decision yet,” McIlroy told the US PGA Tour website on Wednesday.

“There’s no real urgency at the moment, and I couldn’t even imagine planning my schedule that far ahead. I will have to decide, however, and take into consideration many sensibilities.”

Another Northern Ireland golf star, Graeme McDowell, played for Ireland at last year’s World Cup of Golf. That locked him into representing Ireland at Rio in 2016.

“It’s a very touchy subject,” said McDowell at the event. “You are going to end up upsetting someone.”

Published in The Express Tribune, February 28^th, 2014.

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