Olympic fever has yet to afflict large numbers of people and the early evidence is that despite all the lobbying from the game's stakeholders, the world's golfing community remains steadfastly immune.
Major champions Adam Scott, Charl Schwartzel and Louis Oosthuizen have all pulled out as a result of having something better to do. Scott was especially dismissive, referring to the event as 'an exhibition tournament'.
Scott was especially dismissive, referring to the event as 'an exhibition tournament'.
Vijay Singh - never a big fan of novelty - is afraid of contracting Zika Virus and has also withdrawn, greatly lessening Fiji's chances of a medal.
But one man who is sure to be there is Rory McIlroy. As someone who likes to float above politics, the decision to include golf in the Olympics created an unnecessary complication in Rory's life. After a couple of needless shitstorms, he picked Ireland citing the fact that golf has always acted as if the country was never partitioned. He could just as easily have done an Adam Scott and decided it wasn't worth his time.
After a couple of needless shitstorms, he picked Ireland citing the fact that golf has always acted as if the country was never partitioned. He could just as easily have done an Adam Scott and decided it wasn't worth his time. But having made his choice, he is determined to play.
Two reasons - because of how it's being approached in golf circles, it's being played in Rio this year and Toyko in 2020, I'm not sure we're going to have an opportunity to win a gold medal after that, depending on what happens.
The second thing - Paul McGinley is the Irish team captain and he is so into it. He's more into it than I am quite honestly, but because he is, I feel I am not only letting him down, I'd let the country down as well. Paul is a close friend of mine and if I didn't play I'd let him down big time.
Now obviously, Rory's initial hemming and hawing over which country to represent made him persona non grata among some of our more advanced nationalists. That is, at least, the evidence from the internet and from some of our public houses.
Even now, the more militant have yet to be won around. His name was forever blackened in their eyes by the early hesitation. Not even Rory carrying home the gold medal and standing on the podium for the national anthem will win that recalcitrant minority around.
