Newly-married Shane Lowry has joined expected Ireland team-mate Rory McIlroy expressing doubt in travelling to Rio for the Summer Olympics.
Lowry shares McIlroy’s fears of contracting the lethal Zika virus, and a fear shared also by Graeme McDowell who is currently first reserve in the Ireland team.
Lowry is due soon to have general innoculation ‘shots’ but after learning of McIlroy’s concern earlier this week it’s a subject that Lowry and his new wife, Wendy have discussed.
“I do have genuine fears about travelling to Rio and Wendy and I have had conversations on the subject for some time now as we are also both apprehensive about the whole issue,” he said,
Shane Lowry now joins Ireland Olympic Games likely team colleague in expressing concern in travelling to Brazil.
“However I have spent a time reading about the virus and I am trying to keep abreast of reports coming out of Brazil.
“But I really also want to represent Ireland in the Olympics though by the sounds of things Rory is thinking of pulling out.
“I don’t know what other guys are thinking but as of now, I am definitely going but in coming weeks I will seek advice from different doctors such as my own family doctor plus those doctors working on the PGA and European Tours just to get their opinion.
“It will be more about peace of mind than anything as I am only a recently married man and no doubt, Wendy and I will want to start a family one day so I have to consider what is best for me in the long term.”
McDowell’s wife, Kirstin will give birth in August to the couple’s second child, a boy but then if McIlroy or Lowry should withdraw it puts McDowell on the place to Brazil to tee up on 10th August in Rio.
“I understand that the guys have concerns and we all have some concerns as there is not really a lot of solid evidence to suggest what is going on down there in Rio”, said McDowell.
“This is especially so when I look at young guys like Rory and Danny (Willett) and guys who want to have families so I understand their concerns.
“But as I am not yet on the team it is not yet on my radar though it is something that I will continue to assess if the situation emerges for me, and until and if it does, I will keep focussing my schedule.”
Lowry and McDowell are among seven contesting this week’s Euro 5m event on the West Course in Surrey.
Lowry had his best finish in being runner-up two years ago while McDowell’s top result in a dozen Wentworth showings was T13th in 2009 but then he’s also missed the cut on five occasions.
Joining them is Clontarf’s Eamon Brady and qualifying by finishing top-10 in last year’s PGA Club Championships in Turkey.
And also making his 25th straight BMW PGA showing is Ryder Cup Captain, Darren Clarke who was second in both 1997 and 2000 but in the past decade has climbed no higher than T32nd in 2013.
Clarke tomorrow (FRD) will announce after his morning second round three of his five Hazeltine Ryder Cup vice-captains and this after it was expected Clarke would announce the trio yesterday (WED).
However, the announcement was put back as one of the three could not be present at Wentworth till today (FRID), and that would seem to be Padraig Harrington who has spent the past couple of days practicing at Roya Troon and venue for the July 15th starting Open Championship.
Others seriously in the mix to be named by Clarke include Tournament Players Committee Chairman, Thomas Bjorn and Scotland’s Paul Lawrie.
Strangely, the three are out one group apart in day two’s BMW PGA Championship draw.
