Paul McGinley Bitterly Disappointed Over Ireland’s Olympic Games Plight.

Ireland Olympic Games Golf captain, Paul McGinley has expressed his bitter disappointment at hopes of Ireland now winning a men’s gold medal.

Ireland were headed to the Rio Games headed by four-time Major winning Rory McIlroy and to be partnered by in-form Shane Lowry, and runner-up in the recent U.S. Open.

But with Lowry now joining McIlroy and Graeme McDowell on the Rio sidelines the Ireland team of Padraig Harrington and little-known Seamus Power, currently ranked No. 283 in the world, have slumped to the 27th ranked team in the 28-team competition starting on August 10th.

McGinley clearly did not hide his disappointment when being interviewed today by Ireland’s RTE radio.

Paul McGinley in happier tines and clearly not impressed with three of his star Ireland players withdrawing from the Olympic Games

Paul McGinley in happier tines and clearly not impressed with three of his star Ireland players withdrawing from the Olympic Games

“The Zika virus is causing a concern for him,” said McGinley.

“Being newly married in the last couple of months, with a view to hopefully having kids over the next year or two.

“He feels it is a risk he’s not willing to take, even though the risk is very small.

The 49-year-old Ryder Cup winning captain said that is was “not his job or duty” to persuade Lowry and McIlroy to change their minds and says that all the information possible was provided to the players.

“These doctors that they are speaking to are not specific golf doctors. These are doctors and medical experts that I have been receiving from the Olympic Council of Ireland, who in turn have been receiving them from the International Olympic Committee.

“That’s the position they have decided to take and I agree, it doesn’t reflect particularly well on golfers when they seem to be the only ones withdrawing.

“When it is for their own personal reasons, we have to respect that.”

McIlroy withdrew last week and was immediately followed by McDowell while the newly-married Lowry officially withdrew today.

“It’s really disappointing,” said McGinley.

“We had two particularly high ranked players in a very difficult sport and we had a real legitimate chance of going there to maybe win a medal for Ireland.

“We’ll move forward with a new player. Hopefully Seamus is going to be high enough ranked to be the second player to join Pádraig Harrington on the team.”

Despite the high-profile withdrawals, McGinley has no fears over the participation of three-time major winner Harrington.

“Pádraig is 100% going. I have spoken to him and he’s definitely going. He will certainly be the one assured representative we have and we’re hoping that Seamus Power’s ranking position will be high enough at the close of 11 July.

“Bearing in kind Pádraig is at a different stage in his life that Rory and Shane…It’s not particularly apples for apples.”



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