It’s Becoming A Case Of Who’s Not Teeing-Up As Aussies, Springboks & Irish Lead Rio Withdrawals.

Golf’s 112-year wait to return to the Olympic Games arena is sadly becoming a case of who’s NOT teeing up in Rio De Janeiro.

Fears of contracting the Zika virus, and despite it being winter and with many precautions in place to avoid any contact with the virus, has wreaked havoc in the golf world.

And it’s three nations – Australia, South Africa and Ireland – leading the withdrawals with a total now of nine players, and three from each country, withdrawing.

World No. 1 Jason Day confirmed rumours circulating last week and has joined Adam Scott and Marc Leishman as turning down the opportunity to win gold for their country.

The Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games course showing the many water hazards that officials have now installed fountains to break-up any still water that could harbour Zika virus carrying mosquitoes.

The Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games course showing the many water hazards that officials have now installed fountains to break-up any still water that could harbour Zika virus carrying mosquitoes.

South Africans Charl Schwartzel, Louis Oosthuizen and more recently Branden Grace announced they would not travel to Rio.

And the latest to advise he will not compete in Brazil is Ireland’s Shane Lowry who has joined four-time Major winning Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell in withdrawing.  Lowry this week is defending his WGC – Bridgestone Invitational title in Ohio.

The only positive news is that Masters Champion, Danny Willett today confirmed he would tee-up in the Olympics.

“I have spoken to Nic (wife) about it and we’ve had our doubts and our thoughts about what we are going to do but I’m still down to play and I still want to play,” said Willett.

“The threat is lowering every week going into the winter. Each week there are fewer cases. The tournament organisers are doing everything they can to reduce the threat by putting fountains in where there is standing water, by spraying the golf course and putting us up in accommodation where there is air-conditioning so that you’re not going to get these things.

Also Sweden’s Henrik Stenson advised last week in Germany, and ahead of capturing a second BMW International Open, he’s looking forward to marching out into the Olympic arena behind the Swedish flag.



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