Ireland’s Shane Lowry has withdrawn from the Rio Olympics due to concerns surrounding the Zika virus.

The Offaly man, who was recently married, said he felt he would be putting his future family plans at risk and based his decision on “firm medical advice”.

He said he felt he would be putting his “family’s health at risk by being in Brazil at the current time.”

Lowry added that he has “not taken the decision lightly and it has been a source of much anguish for me over the past week.

“I am a very proud Irishman and I love my country. Hence, I was really looking forward to walking out behind the Tricolour with the rest of the Irish Olympic team in Rio.”

Lowry’s withdrawal leaves triple Major winning Padraig Harrington as captain of the Ireland team and with his partner to now be 29-year old Waterford-born Seamus Power, winner earlier this year of an event on the PGA Tour’s secondary web.com Tour.

The 6 foot 3 inch Power grew up playing junior golf tournaments with Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry.

He’s a three-time Irish Youths champion.

Has two brothers.

Power moved to Charlotte after graduating from college. Says if he weren’t a pro golfer he’d be an accountant. “I’ve always been good with numbers. Math, chemistry and physics were always my strongest subjects.”.

Was top 10 in the world in racquetball at age 11-12. Played in the World Racquetball Championship.

And in May Power became the first Irish golfer to win on the Web.com Tour when he took home the $108,000 (€94,000) first prize from the United Leasing & Finance Championship in Indiana.

Power carded a final round five-under 67, the only bogey-free final round at Victoria National Golf Club, to finish on 12 under, one clear of a trio of Americans in second place.